过去曾认为,星状细胞能控制胎儿神经元发育、参与离子和神经递质的代谢,并调节中枢神经系统的血液供应。后来又发现,星状细胞能接受兴奋性神经递质谷氨酸盐的作用,在毫秒级时间内使离子通道开放,提示它在快速信号传递中可能起某种作用。 In the past, it was thought that astrocytes control fetal neuronal development, participate in the metabolism of ions and neurotransmitters, and regulate the blood supply to the central nervous system. It was later discovered that astrocytes receive the glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter that opens the ion channel in milliseconds, suggesting that it may play a role in rapid signaling.