Role of astrocytes in aging: Late passage primary mouse brain astrocytes and C-6 glial cells as models

This chapter discusses the role of astrocytes in aging. Late passages of primary glial cells derived from aged mouse (18-month-old) cerebral hemispheres and also C-6 glial cells of early and late passages as models are used to study the changes in glial cells with aging. The findings reported in the chapter provides evidence that a variety of signals deriving from neurons, epithelial cells, mesenchymal cells or glial cells themselves, regulate the expression of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Observations on glial cells from aged mouse brain provided supportive evidence to the view that glial cells can express progenitor properties throughout the life span. Finally, it is reported that glioblastic glia cells can enhance neuronal phenotypic expression, whereas mature astrocytes do not, and more importantly, astrocytes from aged brain may have an inhibitory influence.