With the advent of new technological approaches and emerging discoveries has come a growing appreciation for the importance of astrocytes in neuroplasticity. In contrast to the chemical synapses between neurons, astrocytes are directly connected by gap junctions comprised of connexin proteins. In the present episode I talk with New York University neuroscientist Melissa Cooper about her research that has revealed roles for astrocyte networks in redistribution of energy substrates in response to injury. Using a clever way of molecular tagging of molecules as they pass through gap junctions in combination with whole brain imaging Melissa has identified astrocyte networks that span long distances and connect different brain regions in patterns that often do not correspond to neuron networks. We talk about the implications of her findings for roles of astrocyte networks in brain function and responses to injury and disease.

LINKS

Redistribution of metabolic resources through astrocyte networks mitigates neurodegenerative stress.:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7414143/pdf/pnas.202009425.pdf

Astrocytes in the mouse brain respond bilaterally to unilateral retinal neurodegeneration.:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11929491/pdf/pnas.202418249.pdf

Astrocytes connect specific brain regions through plastic networks.:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13322983/pdf/41586_2026_Article_10426.pdf