Astrocytes are neural cells of ectodermal, neuroepithelial origin that provide for homeostasis
and defense of the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes are highly heterogeneous in …

Astrocytes tile the entire CNS. They are vital for neural circuit function, but have traditionally
been viewed as simple, homogenous cells that serve the same essential supportive roles …

Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by striatal medium spiny neuron (MSN)
dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We explored roles for …

Inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) channels allow K+ to move more easily into rather than out of the
cell. They have diverse physiological functions depending on their type and their location …

The two major interfaces separating brain and blood have different primary roles. The
choroid plexuses secrete cerebrospinal fluid into the ventricles, accounting for most net fluid …

Astrocytes, one of the most numerous types of cells in the central nervous system, are crucial
for potassium homeostasis, neurotransmitter uptake, synapse formation, regulation of blood …

Rapid changes in extracellular K+ concentration ([K+] o) in the mammalian CNS are
counteracted by simple passive diffusion as well as by cellular mechanisms of K+ clearance …

During neuronal activity, extracellular potassium concentration ([K+] out) becomes elevated
and, if uncorrected, causes neuronal depolarization, hyperexcitability, and seizures …

Neurons have long held the spotlight as the central players of the nervous system, but we
must remember that we have equal numbers of astrocytes and neurons in the brain. Are …

Astrocytes comprise a heterogeneous cell population characterized by distinct
morphologies, protein expression and function. Unlike neurons, astrocytes do not generate …