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AG Medizinische Zellbiologie (Prof. Kinscherf)

Most of the knowledge in today’s neuroscience textbooks about astrocytes, the most prominent glial cell type of the CNS, originates from studies on protoplasmic astrocytes, constituents of grey matter. In contrast, the astroglia of white matter, fibrous astrocytes, are mostly neglected by the neurobiological research landscape, leaving a blank area regarding their regional, morphological, and functional diversity apart from the most striking general differences from grey matter astrocytes. Our research projects seek to fill those gaps by characterizing rodent white matter astrocytes morphologically and functionally. For that matter, we are comparing the traits of astrocytes in various projection, commissural, and association pathways under the influence of age, gender, and hormonal status of the animals.

Methods: Histological techniques (immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization), morphological analysis, molecular and biochemical techniques, (primary) cell culture   

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