ANAT2010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Tight Junction, Myelin, Histology
Document Summary
Lecture 4: glia the other cells of the brain. In cns, glial cells include: oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, ependymal cells, microglia. In pns, glial cells include: schwann cells (derived from neural crest cells) & satellite cells. Categories of glia: macroglia (astrocytes & oligodendrocytes, microglia : macrophages & have monocyte (bone marrow derived) lineage. Astrocytes: star shaped glial cell of cns, labelled with immunohistochemistry using antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (gfap, gfap intermediate filament protein, component of cytoskeleton, cytoskeleton confers strength & shape to cell, gfap specific to astrocytes. Increase in number & complexity of astrocytes increase in neuronal number in the brain. Function of astrocytes: provide structural support for cns. Induce endothelial cells to form tight junctions & promote angiogenesis (growth of new. Joined by cell-cell contacts, confers structural strength: stabilise neuronal configurations (wrap terminals) Astrocytes provide neurochemical support for neurons: cns repair, downside: inhibit neuronal gibre regrowth after lesioning, overcoming inhibitory factors a major focus of cns regeneration research.
