Astrocytes Regulate Breathing Rhythms

[Jackb23]

“Finally, the team showed that these astrocytes used adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to communicate with other cells in the brain. Inactivating released ATP reduced resting breathing rates and the frequency of sighs under normal and low oxygen levels.“

Older study that I just now ran into. Sorry if it’s previously been posted.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/star-cells-may-help-brain-tune-breathing-rhythms

 

[Judee]

Was just reading an article last night that mentioned Astrocytes here.

It said, "Neuronal damage was severe with a marked increase in astrocytes – a common finding in autoimmunity" and "The ME Association found a “vast excess” of glassy looking cells called corpora amylacea in one person’s spinal cord and brain. Derived from astrocytes, these cells are common in neurodegenerative diseases and are often associated with aging."

 

[olegsel]

Astrocytes, ‘caretaker’ cells that surround and support neurons in the brain, play a much more important role in circadian rhythms, the body’s 24-hour internal clock, than previously understood.
The Medical Research Council (MRC)-funded study published today in the journal Science, found that these star-shaped cells, previously thought of as just supporting neurons in regulating circadian rhythms, can actually lead the tempo of the body’s internal clock and have been shown for the first time to be able to control patterns of daily behaviour in mammals.
The findings of the new study could pave the way for new treatments to be exploited when circadian rhythms are disrupted, which can cause jet lag and sleep disorders, as well as contribute to a range of health conditions, from psychiatric disorders to dementia, diabetes and cancer.

https://neurosciencenews.com/astrocytes-circadian-rhythm-10498/