International College of Affective NeuroScience
Astrocyte´s new role in controlling breathing
A recent study published in Science highlights the role of astrocytes, star-shaped cells found in the brain and spinal cord, in regulating respiration by ’sensing’ changes in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood and stimulating neurons to regulate respiration.
Astrocytes have been traditionally thought to just provide structural and metabolic support for other cells, so this new information adds an unexpected role in controlling breathing.
Find a link to the paper abstract here
Find a comment on Nature news about this topic here
| Print article | This entry was posted by Beatriz Rodriguez-Cabo on July 20, 2010 at 8:35 pm, and is filed under Basic science. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 1 month ago
This is really an interesting finding. I wonder wheter they will also study the relationship between astrocytes and panic.
about 1 month ago
Sure!!
That´s why I find the paper so interesting!
I think the next step is to study this issue in humans, as this research has been conducted in rats, but for sure this finding could be crucial in panic physiopathology.