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Astrocyte are characteristic star shaped cells in the brain matrix . Also known as " glial cell" or " astrocytic glial cell ".

1 Functions

Apparently, they make a second cell network within the brain. For a while in medical science, the neuronal network was considered as the only important one, and astrocytes where looked upon as “gap filler”. But recently they are reconsidered. It appears they can actually control communication between neurons by modifying ability for neurotransmitters to go through synapses, or by withdrawing themselves from the synapse gap. Information moves considerably (100000 times?) slower in the astrocyte network than in the neuronal network, though it could actually complement the fast neuronal information. New exiting perspectives of explanations come with this reconsideration.

1.1 Pictures

An excellent (copyrighted) picture of astrocyte next to a neuron.