Neuroscience

Glial cells may take on big jobs in unexpected parts of the body

Found in the spleen, heart and lungs, are these neglected cells star players?

Glia cell in mouse spleen

In a mouse spleen, glia (green) and nerves (white) mingle as they wrap around a small artery (pink). Such close connections in several organs have caught the attention of scientists.

T. LUCAS, L. ZHU AND M. BUCKWALTER/GLIA 2021

By Laura Sanders

- More than 2 years ago

In the theater of the brain, nerve cells have long been cast as the stars, bringing mental scenes to life with their electrical and chemical performances.