Astrocytes
Astrocytes are cells of the central nervous system which act as both physical and physiological support for the neurones that are embedded between them. They are particularly abundant in the grey matter, where they are the most abundant glial cells 1.
They are highly branched and contribute to the blood-brain barrier, the subpial glia limitans, as well as regulating extracellular fluid transport (known as the glymphatic pathway). They also are important in the metabolic exchange between neurones and capillaries, as well as responding to mechanical and biochemical insults to the brain (e.g. gliosis) 1.
Histology
Immunohistochemistry
Astrocytes are most easily identified by immunohistochemical staining for GFAP and S100 1.
Related Radiopaedia articles
Histology
- cells
- immunohistochemistry
-
histological stains
- alcian blue stain
- azan stain
- Giemsa stain
- Gram stain
- hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E)
- immunoperoxidase staining
- Luxol fast blue stain
- Masson's trichrome stain
- methylene blue
- Nissl stain
- oil red O stain
- osmium stain
- Papanicolaou stain
- periodic acid-Schiff reaction (PAS)
- Prussian blue stain
- reticulin stain
- silver stain
- Sudan stains
- toluidine blue stain
- van Gieson stain
- Ziehl-Neelsen stain
- regions
- specific features and structures
- blood brain barrier
- glymphatic pathway