Astrocytes
The star-shaped astrocytes (from astron ‘star’ and kytos ‘cell’) constitute the majority of the glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS). They play an important role for the establishment, structure and maintenance of the cerebral tissue and in particular for the blood-brain barrier. Furthermore, astrocytes act as support and feeder cells for neurons (energy source, synthesis and buffering of neurotransmitters, etc).
Astrocytes
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a protein specific to astrocyte, used as marker in immunofluorescence.