Astrocyte diagram
7 Feb 2022
Astrocytes (meaning ‘star-cells’) have a unique morphology. While the internal structure is star-like, tiny protrusions of the cell form a cloud-like region that surround all nearby synapses – the junctions where different neurons meet and communicate. In mice, astrocytes are estimated to be in contact with, and take care of, around 300,000 synapses. This image appeared in the press release "Stargazing in the brain: “Star-like” cells display unique activity patterns".
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