Major depressive disorder affects hundreds of millions worldwide, but a key to understanding its origins may lie in the brain’s immune system. New findings spotlight astrocytes—previously overshadowed ...

Notably, changes in astrocyte morphology and function were associated with poor synaptic connectivity, contributing to the development of depressive symptoms.

They have a complex morphology with lots and lots of micro or nanoscale processes that infiltrate the area surrounding them. A single astrocyte can contact roughly 100,000 synapses, and not all of ...

Astrocytes were initially defined by their star-shaped morphology in the 19th century. Today, however, it is more greatly appreciated that astrocytes display an array of morphological and functional ...

Astrocyte is the most abundant cells in brain and plays critical roles in brain homeostasis and functions. Although hyperthermia (or fever) is a common symptom in patients, its influence on astrocyte ...

Indeed, a few morphology-related genes, including FERMT2 and Slc1a2, appeared to be linked to AD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. All told, the authors concluded that loss of ...

“Astrocytes and microglia not only changed their morphology, we also found alterations in specific markers that are characteristic to disease-associated microglia,” said Hösli.

"Astrocytes and microglia not only changed their morphology, we also found alterations in specific markers that are characteristic to disease-associated microglia," says Hösli.