Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), and provide trophic and metabolic support to neurons in the brain [1]. Dysfunctional astrocytes have been associated with many brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s [2], Huntington’s [3] and Parkinson’s diseases [4], and epilepsy [5,6]. Their normal morphology and function are maintained by the astrocytic intercellular communication, especially the direct cytoplasmic sharing via gap junctions [5]. These pores, formed by two connexin (Cx) hexamers docking to each other on the neighboring cell membrane, facilitate the intercellular exchange of metabolites and ions throughout the astrocytic network, and regulate cerebrovascular blood flow and the modulation of synaptic activity [7,8].
DIC