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Do Evolutionary Changes in Astrocytes Contribute to the Computational Power of the Hominid Brain?

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Abstract

It is now well accepted that astrocytes are essential in all major nervous system functions of the rodent brain, including neurotransmission, energy metabolism, modulation of blood flow, ion and water homeostasis, and, indeed, higher cognitive functions, although the contribution of astrocytes in cognition is still in early stages of study. Here we review the most current research findings on human astrocytes, including their structure, molecular characterization, and functional properties. We also highlight novel tools that have been established for translational approaches to the comparative study of astrocytes from humans and experimental animals. Understanding the differences in astrocytes is essential to elucidate the contribution of astrocytes to normal physiology, cognitive processing and diverse pathologies of the central nervous system.

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Fig. 1

Reproduced from [57]

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Adapted from [55]

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Fransisco, CA, USA

    Nancy Ann Oberheim Bush

  2. Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical School, Rochester, NY, USA

    Maiken Nedergaard

  3. Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Maiken Nedergaard

Authors
  1. Nancy Ann Oberheim Bush
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  2. Maiken Nedergaard
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Correspondence to Nancy Ann Oberheim Bush.

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Oberheim Bush, N.A., Nedergaard, M. Do Evolutionary Changes in Astrocytes Contribute to the Computational Power of the Hominid Brain?. Neurochem Res 42, 2577–2587 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-017-2363-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-017-2363-0

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