Cortical astrocytes, mouse

An image illustrating the density of astrocytes and neurons in the cerebral cortex. Astrocytes are shown in red/yellow here. Surrounding neurons' cell bodies are labeled green. A large astrocyte cell body is seen to the right of the image, and throughout, small red dots reflect the processes of astrocytes, which are cut in section by this image. Methods for image collection are similar to that described in Nimmerjahn et al. 2004.

Image of in vivo mouse cerebral cortex, collected with a two-photon microscope. Plane of image is of layer 2/3, 220 micron below pial surface and parallel to pia. Image is approx 200 micron in width.

Green: neural cell bodies.
Red: astrocytic glial cells; some of these wrap around blood vessels, seen in black.

Changes in image brightness at the top left corner and on a vertical line in the center of the image are just measurement artifacts and do not reflect true features of the brain.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Mhisted.

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