ASTROCYTES

Jun 27 2025SCIENCE

How Brain Cells Help You Switch Between Sleep and Wakefulness

The brain is a busy place, always working to keep you alert or help you sleep. It turns out that special cells called astrocytes play a big role in this switch. These cells are like tiny helpers in the brain. They talk to other brain cells using chemicals called neurotransmitters. One important neurotransmitter is noradrenaline. It helps control how awake or sleepy y...

reading time about 1 minute
Jan 11 2025SCIENCE

The Changing Role of Astrocyte Mitochondria: A New Angle on Neuronal Injury

Did you know that astrocytes, often seen as the support crew in the brain, have a surprising role in neuronal injury? In Uruguay, research on these glial cells has a long history, dating back almost to the birth of the Uruguayan Society for Neuroscience. Astrocytes, traditionally known for their supportive roles in the central nervous system, transform dramatically w...

reading time less than a minute