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Neurobiology

The amazing astrocyte

Nature volume 417, pages 29–31 (2002)Cite this article

Two regions of the brain in adult mammals contain stem cells that can generate new neurons. It seems that astrocytes — cells once viewed merely as padding in the brain — can stimulate the neuron-generating process.

The cells that make up our brains come in two main flavours: neurons and glia. Neurons conduct action potentials and have traditionally held centre stage in neurobiological research. By contrast, glia have often been seen as the poor relatives. With their name originating from the Greek word for glue, they were for many years viewed simply as the brain's packing material, holding neurons in place. But this view is changing rapidly. One dominant type of glial cell is the astrocyte, and studies of its functions continue to take intriguing twists and turns. As well as providing structural support for nerve cells, astrocytes are now known to modulate the environment around neurons, release a range of neuronal growth factors and help to maintain the cellular barrier between blood and brain. They may also control neuronal life more directly by regulating the production of synapses, the brain's chemical junctions1. On page 39 of this issue Song et al.2 add to this impressive list, showing that astrocytes can also instruct unspecialized cells to become neurons — a process termed neurogenesis. It seems that, in the cellular hierarchy of the nervous system, astrocytes are upwardly mobile.

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Figure 1: More than just glue.

ANITA BHATTACHARYYA & CLIVE SVENDSEN

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stem Cell Research Program in Neuroscience, The Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, 53705-2280, Wisconsin, USA

    Clive N. Svendsen

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  1. Clive N. Svendsen
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Correspondence to Clive N. Svendsen.

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Svendsen, C. The amazing astrocyte. Nature 417, 29–31 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/417029a

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