astrocyte

American  

[as-truh-sahyt] / ˈæs trəˌsaɪt /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. a star-shaped neuroglial cell of ectodermal origin.

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astrocyte British  

/ ˈæstrəʊˌsaɪt /

noun

1. any of the star-shaped cells in the tissue supporting the brain and spinal cord (neuroglia)

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astrocyte Scientific  

/ ăs′trə-sīt′ /

1. A star-shaped cell, especially one of the glial cells that support the tissue of the central nervous system.

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Other Word Forms

• astrocytic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of astrocyte

First recorded in 1895–1900; astro- + -cyte

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

astrocyte

The team found that increasing levels of Sox9, a protein that plays a major role in regulating astrocyte activity during aging, significantly improved these cells' ability to remove amyloid plaques.

From Science Daily ● May 2, 2026

When astrocyte signaling was disrupted, neurons struggled to form the normal activity patterns linked to fear.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 4, 2026

His team is also studying how astrocyte CCN1 may influence inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases and aging.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 13, 2026

The protective benefits suggested that strong astrocyte engagement may help slow the cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative disease.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 23, 2025

The researchers noticed that such a stimulation induced a robust increase in the astrocyte calcium, which was followed by an epileptic neuronal hyperactivity episode.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 19, 2024

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