Apart from absorbing excess potassium, astrocytes themselves could cause potassium levels around the neuron to drop, halting neuronal signaling. This research showed, ...

This framework might help to understand how the brain reaches its amazing memory capacity. According to conventional models, memory depends just on neuron to neuron connections; astrocytes might ...

She was not involved in the work, but had previously reported that astrocytes lose potassium channels in Alzheimer’s disease (see Feb 2009 news story). Intriguingly, faulty potassium channels underlie ...

Scientists have long known that that's a job for astrocytes – sopping up excess potassium, ending the nerve pulse, and restoring the cells so they can fire again immediately.

Once considered mainly 'brain glue,' astrocytes' power revealed Date: March 29, 2012 Source: University of Rochester Medical Center Summary: A type of cell plentiful in the brain, long considered ...

The brain contains billions of astrocytes, and scientists have long known they play a part in cleaning up molecules within brain synapses, the junctions where neurons come together.. More recent ...

Astrocytes, otherwise known as star cells due to their shape, play various roles in the brain, and many are focused on the health and activity of their neighboring neurons.

Astrocyte cells–not just neurons–could be key in processing memories. Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Search for: ...

In the image, the Shh signaling pathway has been activated in a subset of astrocytes (red). These cells produce high levels of Kir4.1 (green), a potassium channel needed to maintain proper ...

In both models, astrocytes with the mutant gene showed a measurable drop in Kir4.1, a protein that allows the astrocyte to take in potassium through the cell membrane.