Definition of Astrocyte

1. Noun. Comparatively large neuroglial cell.

Generic synonyms: Glial Cell, Neurogliacyte, Neuroglial Cell
Group relationships: Astroglia, Macroglia
Specialized synonyms: Fibrous Astrocyte, Protoplasmic Astrocyte
Derivative terms: Astrocytic

Definition of Astrocyte

1. Noun. (neurology) a neuroglial cell, in the shape of a star, in the brain ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Astrocyte

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Astrocyte

1. The largest and most numerous neuroglial cells found in the brain and spinal cord. Astrocytes are irregularly shaped with many long processes, including those which form the blood-brain barrier. They regulate the extracellular ionic and chemical environment, and reactive astrocytes (along with microglia) respond to injury. Astrocytes have high-affinity transmitter uptake systems, voltage-dependent and transmitter-gated ion channels. See: oligodendrocytes. (18 Nov 2007)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Astrocyte

astroblast
astroblastoma
astrobleme
astroblemes
astrocele
astrochemical
astrochemist
astrochemistry
astrochemists
astrochimp
astrochimps
astrocladistics
astroclimate
astroclimatic
astrocyte (current term)
astrocytes
astrocytic
astrocytoma
astrocytomas
astrocytomata
astrocytosis
astrocytosis cerebri
astrodome
astrodomes
astrodynamic
astrodynamical
astrodynamically
astrodynamics
astroependymoma

Literary usage of Astrocyte

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Problems of Drug Dependence: Proceedings of the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting by Louie S. Harrie (1999)
"The effects of 5 (DPDPE), or K (U69,593/U50,488H) agonists were compared to PL017 or morphine in murine astrocyte cultures at 6 days in vitro, n, ..."

2. Reviews in Environmental Health (1998): Toxicological Defense Mechanics edited by Gary E. R. Hook, George W. Lucier (2000)
"Flott B, Seifert W. Characterization of glutamate uptake systems in astrocyte primary cultures from rat brain. Glia 4:293-304(1991) 50. Gallo V, Giovanni C, ..."

3. The Journal of Anatomy and Physiology by Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1898)
"A third cell, with all the features of the astrocyte, was found sending a process up to the "membrana limitans interna " of the central canal. ..."

4. Normal histology and microscopical anatomy by Jeremiah Sweetser Ferguson (1904)
"A long-rayed astrocyte 404 368. A short-rayed astrocyte, or mossy cell 405 360. Neuroglia cells and fibres 400 370. Diagram of a neurone 407 371. ..."

5. The American Journal of Insanity by New York (State). State Lunatic Asylum (1905)
"The number of the astrocyte forms is, however, relatively low. More characteristic is a multiformity and irregularity in size of cell and nucleus which ..."

6. The Anatomy of the Nervous System from the Standpoint of Development and by Stephen Walter Ranson (1920)
"Special neuroglia stains, like that of Weigert, show that an astrocyte is composed of a glia cell associated with many glia fibers. ..."

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