To capture this local heterogeneity, the authors developed a #multiphoton #FLIM approach with the Na⁺ indicator ING-2 and #astrocyte labeling, enabling quantitative Na⁺ measurements in individual #astrocytes and their processes. This is important because astrocytic Na⁺ is not just a bulk somatic variable. It varies locally across branches and subdomains, where K⁺ uptake and #glutamate-linked Na⁺ influx are regulated.
🧠🎨 New paper by Meyer et al: #astrocytic #sodium #homeostasis is not uniform. Using multiphoton #FLIM in #mouse #brain slices and #invivo, they show strong #cellular and #subcellular heterogeneity in astrocytic Na⁺ levels.
Processes contain more Na⁺ than somata, Na⁺ varies between #astrocyte branches, and distinct Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase subunit patterns help tune local K⁺ uptake and #glutamate-linked Na⁺ influx.
🧠 New paper by Cooper et al., who introduce a method to trace #astrocyte #gapjunction networks in vivo and show that astrocytes form selective, plastic networks linking specific #brain regions rather than one diffuse brain-wide syncytium. These networks can span long distances, differ from known #neuronal projections, and reorganize after sensory deprivation:
2 likes, 0 comments - drhowardsmithreports on February 25, 2026: "Helping Spinal Cords Heal Neuroscientists at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center report that the neural support cell, the astrocyte, plays a crucial role in spinal cord healing following injury. The publish their preclinical mouse study in the journal Nature. The astrocyte senses a cord injury whether near or far and releases a protein signal known as CCN1. CCN1 then activates the nervous system’s vacuum cleaner, the microglial cell, which effectively digests post-injury fatty debris left when damaged nerve sheaths deteriorate. If this debris remains, it can inhibit proper healing and functional return. These mouse experiments demonstrate that, when the CCN1 signal is active, debris is cleared more efficiently and healing improves. When CCN1 is removed, debris builds up, inflammation spreads, and recovery is worse. These same repair signals and the processes they activate are also seen in human spinal cord tissue. This opens the door for a biochemical enhancement of spinal cord healing that will yield more normal function……someday soon. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260212234218.htm https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09887-y #spinalcord #injury #astrocyte #ccn1".
Magnetic Cell Sorter 🇺🇸
#Astrocytes #CellsandOrganelles #GLAST #GLAST+ #Magnetic #Sorter #astrocyte #brain
⏩ 2 new pictures from NIH BioArt https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=22&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20251216025720
Astrocyte 🇺🇸
#CellsandOrganelles #astrocyte #brain #cell #glia #gliacells #nervoussystemcells
⏩ 2 new pictures from NIH BioArt https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=40&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20251213025809
Fabrizio Musacchio
Howard Smith MD, AM
OptimusPrimeBot
PLOS Biology
Giuseppe Michieli
Jalal Khawaldeh
katch wreck