In the brain, neurons and astrocytes work together to process information and enable complex behavior and cognitive abilities. Astrocytes have many functions like controlling the blood-brain barrier, providing nutrients to the nervous tissue, and supporting its repair. An interesting feature of astrocytes is that they form large networks of connected cells. These couplings are made of specific membrane pores that are formed by a group of proteins called connexins. And through these connections, astrocytes can communicate with each other by exchanging various ions and small molecules.
Switching off astrocyte coupling disrupts spatial memory formation
A team of neuroscientists led by Aiman Saab and Bruno Weber at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University of Zurich (UZH), has revealed that in the adult brain of mice astrocyte coupling contributes to neural…
