Astrocyte

Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells in the brain and spinal cord. They perform many functions, including support of endothelial cells that form the blood-brain barrier, they provide nutrients to brain tissue, maintain extracellular ion balance, have a role in repairing tissue, and are believed to play some roles in neural processing.

Description

 * astrocytes likely make up around 20-40% of glial cells depending on the brain region.
 * astrocytes can experience intracellular calcium transients somewhat resembling those in neurons.
 * These transients are mainly driven by calcium released from internal stores due to inositol triphosphate receptor 2 activation.

Function

 * Genetic deletion of IP3R2 impairs heterosynaptic, cholinergic-mediated plasticity and performance in a morris water maze task.