astrocyte

astrocyte
One of the large neuroglia cells of nervous tissue. SEE ALSO: neuroglia. SYN: astroglia cell, astroglia, Cajal cell (2), Deiters cells (2), macroglia cell, macroglia, spider cell (1). [G. astron, star, + kytos, hollow (cell)]
- Alzheimer type I a. enlarged frequently multinucleated astrocytes, seen in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
- Alzheimer type II a. enlarged astrocytes with vesicular nuclei and one or more small basophilic nucleoli, seen in hepatocerebral disease and Wilson disease.
- fibrillary a., fibrous a. stellate astrocytic cell with long processes found mainly in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord and characterized by having bundles of glial filaments in its cytoplasm; origin of most astrocytomas.
- gemistocytic a. a round to oval a. cell with abundant cytoplasm containing glial filaments and an eccentric nucleus; may contain two nuclei in the cell; hypertrophy of astrocytes. SYN: gemistocyte, gemistocytic cell, reactive a., reactive cell.
- protoplasmic a. one form of a., found mainly in gray matter, having few fibrils and numerous branching processes.
- reactive a. SYN: gemistocytic a..

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as·tro·cyte 'as-trə-.sīt n a star-shaped cell esp any comparatively large much-branched glial cell
as·tro·cyt·ic .as-trə-'sit-ik adj

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n.
a type of cell with numerous sheet-like processes extending from its cell body, found throughout the central nervous system. It is one of the several different types of cell that make up the glia. The cells have been ascribed the function of providing nutrients for neurones and possibly of taking part in information storage processes.

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as·tro·cyte (asґtro-sīt) [astro- + -cyte] a neuroglial cell of ectodermal origin, characterized by fibrous, protoplasmic, or plasmatofibrous processes. Collectively, such cells are called astroglia.

Astrocytes with well-developed processes demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (brown).


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • astrocyte — ● astrocyte nom masculin Cellule constitutive de la névroglie possédant un corps volumineux autour duquel rayonnent de nombreux prolongements fins et ramifiés. ⇒ASTROCYTE, subst. masc. MÉD. ,,Cellule de la substance grise des systèmes nerveux… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • astrocyte — n. a large star shaped neuroglial cell in nervous tissue. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • astrocyte — [as′trōsīt΄, as′trəsīt΄] n. [ ASTRO + CYTE] a star shaped cell of the brain and spinal cord astrocytic [as′trōsit′ik, as′trəsit′ik] adj …   English World dictionary

  • Astrocyte — For the cell in the gastrointestinal tract, see Interstitial cell of Cajal. Neuron: Astrocyte Astrocytes can be visualized in culture because they express glial fibrillary acidic protein …   Wikipedia

  • Astrocyte — Les astrocytes peuvent être visualisés à l aide du marqueur GFAP. Les astrocytes sont des cellules gliales du système nerveux central. Elles ont généralement une forme étoilée, d où provient leur étymologie : Astro étoile et cyte cellule.… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • astrocyte — noun comparatively large neuroglial cell • Derivationally related forms: ↑astrocytic • Hypernyms: ↑neurogliacyte, ↑neuroglial cell, ↑glial cell • Hyponyms: ↑fibrous astrocyte, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • astrocyte — A type of cell found in the brain and spinal cord. An astrocyte is a small, star shaped glial cell (a cell that surrounds and supports nerve cells) …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • astrocyte — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1898 a large star shaped cell of the glia • astrocytic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • astrocyte — n. [Gr. aster, star; kytos, container] 1. A starshaped neuroglia cell. 2. Any star shaped cell, especially in stroma tissues …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • astrocyte — A glial cell found in vertebrate brain, named for its characteristic star like shape. Astrocytes lend both mechanical and metabolic support for neurons, regulating the environment in which they function. See oligodendrocytes …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • astrocyte — astrocytic /as treuh sit ik/, adj. /as treuh suyt /, n. Cell Biol. a star shaped neuroglial cell of ectodermal origin. [1895 1900; ASTRO + CYTE] * * * …   Universalium

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