title: Heterogeneity of astrocytic form and function.
abstract: Astrocytes participate in all essential CNS functions, including blood flow regulation, energy metabolism, ion and water homeostasis, immune defence, neurotransmission, and adult neurogenesis. It is thus not surprising that astrocytic morphology and function differ between regions, and that different subclasses of astrocytes exist within the same brain region. Recent lines of work also show that the complexity of protoplasmic astrocytes increases during evolution. Human astrocytes are structurally more complex, larger, and propagate calcium signals significantly faster than rodent astrocytes. In this chapter, we review the diversity of astrocytic form and function, while considering the markedly expanded roles of astrocytes with phylogenetic evolution. We also define major challenges for the future, which include determining how astrocytic functions are locally specified, defining the molecular controls upon astrocytic fate and physiology and establishing how evolutionary changes in astrocytes contribute to higher cognitive functions.
authors.affiliation: Center for Translational Neuromedicine, Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy Ann
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Oberheim
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Maiken
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nedergaard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D050491:Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D050491:Glutamate Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002118:Calcium