Rat Astrocytes-adult (RA-a)

Product Description

Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the central nervous system (CNS) and they provide a variety of vital functions for the CNS including: establishment and regulation of the blood brain barrier, functional support for neuronal transmission, survival of neurons, anti-inflammatory responses and wound repair [1]. Astrocytes have also been implicated in various pathological processes such as reactive gliosis [2]. Impairment of normal astrocyte functions during stroke and other insults can critically influence neuron survival. Long-term recovery after brain injury, through neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity, or neuron regeneration, is also influenced by astrocyte surface molecule expression and trophic factor release [3]. Numerous studies have demonstrated that astrocytes are among the most functionally diverse group of cells in the CNS [4]. Rat astrocytes-adult (RA-a) are a useful in vitro model for studying adult glial function and the molecular mechanisms of CNS diseases such as ischemic stroke and multiple sclerosis.

iXCells Biotechnologies provides high quality Rat Astrocytes-adult (RA-a), which are isolated from adult rat brain and cryopreserved at P1, with >0.5 million cells in each vial. RA-a express GFAP and are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi. They can further expand for 5 population doublings in Astrocyte Growth Medium-rodent (Cat# MD-0060) under the condition suggested by iXCells Biotechnologies.

Product Details

References

[1] Rudge JS. (1993) "Astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factors." In Murphy S, Astrocytes: Pharmacology and Function (pp 267-94). San Diego: Academic Press, Inc.
[2] van der Laan LJ, De Groot CJ, Elices MJ, Dijkstra CD. (1997) "Extracellular matrix proteins expressed by human adult astrocytes in vivo and in vitro: an astrocyte surface protein containing the CS1 domain contributes to binding of lymphoblasts." J Neurosci Res. 50: 539-48. 
[3] Chen Y, Swanson RA. (2003) "Astrocytes and brain injury." J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 23: 137-49.
[4] Shao Y, McCarhy KD. (1994) "Plasticity of astrocytes." Glia. 11: 147-55.

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