Astrocytes

Question 1

the significance of neurotransmitter uptake by astrocytes

Answer 1

prevents overactivation of glutamate receptors

Question 2

what regulates glutamate uptake in humans?

Answer 2

EAAT-1 and EAAT-2

Question 3

what does EAAT stand for?

Answer 3

Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter

Question 4

what regulates glutamate uptake in rats?

Answer 4

GLT-1 and GLAST

Question 5

what do GLT and GLAST stand for?

Answer 5

GLutamate Transporter

GLutamate-ASpartate Transporter

Question 6

what controls the uptake of GABA by astrocytes?

Answer 6

GABA Transporters (GATs)

Question 7

what percentage of GABA do GATs remove from the synaptic cleft?

Answer 7

20%

Question 8

what are the most common ion channels present in astrocytes?

Answer 8

potassium (K+)

Question 9

what connects astrocytes?

Answer 9

gap junctions

Question 10

what are the types of astrocytes?

Answer 10

fibrous astrocytes
protoplasmic astrocytes
radial Bergmann glial cells
Muller cells

Question 11

characteristics of fibrous astrocytes

Answer 11

• present in white matter
• have star-like shape
• have dense glial filaments

Question 12

characteristics of protoplasmic astrocytes

Answer 12

• present in grey matter
• have irregular shapes
• have few glial filaments

Question 13

characteristics of Rett syndrome

Answer 13

• neurodevelopmental disorder
• X-linked
• more than 900 mutations are present
• cause: loss of MeCP2
• boys with the disease normally die within their first year of life
• symptoms: repetitive hand movement, missing developmental milestones, microencephaly, mental retardation, autism, epileptic seizures