astrocyte

noun

as·​tro·​cyte ˈa-strə-ˌsīt 

: a large star-shaped cell of the glia

astrocytic

ˌa-strə-ˈsi-tik 

adjective

Examples of astrocyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, neural stem cells successfully differentiated into neurons and astrocytes following flattening, demonstrating that the procedure does not interfere with their biological processes. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

Getting rid of the enzyme had altered the behavior of cells called astrocytes. —Jon Hamilton, NPR, 2 Sep. 2024

The early phase was marked by inflammatory changes in the brain’s immune cells (microglia) and support cells (astrocytes). —New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2024

The protein is made mainly by astrocytes, cells that help nourish and maintain neurons, as well as by microglia, the brain’s immune cells. —Byjocelyn Kaiser, science.org, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Astrocyt (later Astrozyt), from astro- astro- + -cyt -cyte

Note: The term was probably introduced by the Hungarian histologist Mihály (Michael von) Lenhossék (1863-1937) in Der feinere Bau des Nervensystems im Lichte neuester Forschungen, 2. Auflage (Berlin, 1895), p. 180.

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

astrocyte

noun

as·​tro·​cyte ˈas-trə-ˌsīt 

: a star-shaped cell

especially : any comparatively large much-branched glial cell

Glia outnumber neurons in the human brain by a factor of 10 to one, and astrocytes are the most abundant type of glial cell.

—Tina Hesman Saey, Science News

Astrocytes come in two main forms: fibrous astrocytes are found in the white matter and protoplasmic astrocytes in the gray matter.

—Harold Kimelberg and Michael Norenberg, Scientific American

astrocytic

ˌas-trə-ˈsit-ik 

adjective

All gliomas, particularly the astrocytic neoplasms, are histologically, genetically, and thus therapeutically heterogeneous.

—Lisa M. DeAngelis, The New England Journal of Medicine