Topic: compound screening

Astrocytes are crucial mediators of brain function on a multimodal level such as energy metabolism or synapse formation and maturation. They form a vast network in the brain and signal both with each other and with neurons. Calcium is the primary information carrier in astrocytes and can be measured using fluorescent indicators. Therapeutic approaches for cognitive diseases are commonly designed to influence neurons, but neglect astrocytes, despite them accounting for half the mass of the brain.Here we use astrocytic calcium signals and recent advances in analysis to develop an astrocytic comp

Neurotrophic activity constitutes a crucial factor in the recovery from neurological injuries and is impaired in neurodegenerative disorders. Preclinical studies of neurotrophic factors to improve outcome of neurodegenerative diseases have yielded promising results. However, due to the complexity of these therapies, the clinical translation of this approach was so far not successful and more feasible treatments with neurotrophic activity may be promising alternatives. Therefore, highly sensitive and robust assays for compound screening are required. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is known to induce