{"history":[],"article":{"id":"11526ca2-e006-4e15-9fd1-eb4c7d3b6b35","title":"Stellate cell","slug":"stellate-cell","content":":::summary\n![Golgi stained cortical neurons A) Layer II/III pyramidal cell B) layer IV spiny stellate cell](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Pyramsdal-and-Spiny-stellate-cell.JPG)\n**Name:** Stellate cell \n**Image 2:** Diagram of the Microanatomy of Human Cerebellar Cortex.svg \n**Caption 2:** Microcircuitry of the cerebellum. [Excitatory synapses](https://bliptext.com/articles/excitatory-synapses) are denoted by (+) and [inhibitory synapses](https://bliptext.com/articles/inhibitory-synapses) by (-).
MF: [Mossy fiber](https://bliptext.com/articles/mossy-fiber-cerebellum).
DCN: [Deep cerebellar nuclei](https://bliptext.com/articles/deep-cerebellar-nuclei).
IO: [Inferior olive](https://bliptext.com/articles/inferior-olivary-nucleus).
CF: [Climbing fiber](https://bliptext.com/articles/climbing-fiber).
GC: [Granule cell](https://bliptext.com/articles/granule-cell).
PF: [Parallel fiber](https://bliptext.com/articles/parallel-fiber).
PC: [Purkinje cell](https://bliptext.com/articles/purkinje-cell).
GgC: [Golgi cell](https://bliptext.com/articles/golgi-cell).
SC: Stellate cell.
BC: [Basket cell](https://bliptext.com/articles/basket-cell). \n:::\n\n# \n**Stellate cells** are [neurons](https://bliptext.com/articles/neuron) in the [central nervous system](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-nervous-system), named for their star-like shape formed by [dendritic](https://bliptext.com/articles/dendrite) processes radiating from the cell body.\nThese cells play significant roles in various brain functions, including inhibition in the [cerebellum](https://bliptext.com/articles/cerebellum) and excitation in the [cortex](https://bliptext.com/articles/cerebellar-cortex), and are involved in [synaptic plasticity](https://bliptext.com/articles/synaptic-plasticity) and [neurovascular coupling](https://bliptext.com/articles/neurovascular-coupling).\n\n# Morphology\nStellate cells are characterized by their star-shaped dendritic trees.\nDendrites can vary between neurons, with stellate cells being either spiny or aspinous.\nIn contrast, [pyramidal cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/pyramidal-cell), which are also found in the cerebral cortex, are always spiny and pyramid-shaped.\nThe classification of neurons often depends on the presence or absence of dendritic spines: those with spines are classified as spiny, while those without are classified as aspinous.\n\n# Types and locations\n\n## Cerebellar\nMany stellate cells are [GABAergic](https://bliptext.com/articles/gabaergic) and are located in the [molecular layer](https://bliptext.com/articles/[cerebellum](https://bliptext.com/articles/cerebellum)) of the [cerebellum](https://bliptext.com/articles/cerebellum).\nMost common stellate cells are the [inhibitory](https://bliptext.com/articles/inhibitory-postsynaptic-potential) [interneurons](https://bliptext.com/articles/interneurons) found within the upper half of the molecular layer in the cerebellum.\nThese cells synapse onto the [dendritic trees](https://bliptext.com/articles/dendritic-tree) of [Purkinje cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/purkinje-cell) and send inhibitory signals.\nStellate cells are derived from dividing [progenitor cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/progenitor-cell) in the white matter of the postnatal cerebellum.\n\n## Cortical\nStellate neurons are also found in the cortex.\nCortical spiny stellate cells are located in layer IVC of the [primary visual cortex](https://bliptext.com/articles/primary-visual-cortex), and in the somatosensory [barrel cortex](https://bliptext.com/articles/barrel-cortex) of mice and rats, glutamatergic (excitatory) spiny stellate cells are organized in layer 4 of the [barrel cortex](https://bliptext.com/articles/barrel-cortex).\nThese cells receive excitatory synaptic fibers from the thalamus and process feed-forward excitation to layers 2/3 of the primary visual cortex to pyramidal cells.\nCortical spiny stellate cells exhibit a 'regular' firing pattern.\n\n## Other locations\nGABAergic aspinous stellate cells are also found in the [somatosensory cortex](https://bliptext.com/articles/somatosensory-cortex).\nThese cells can be immunohistochemically labeled with [glutamic acid decarboxylase](https://bliptext.com/articles/glutamic-acid-decarboxylase) (GAD) due to their GABAergic activity, and they occasionally colocalize with neuropeptides.\n\n# Development\nStellate and [basket cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/basket-cell) originate from the cerebellar ventricular zone (CVZ) along with [Purkinje cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/purkinje-cell) and [Bergmann glia](https://bliptext.com/articles/bergmann-glia).\nThese cells follow a similar pathway during migration, starting in the deep layer of the white matter, moving through the internal granular layer (IGL) and the Purkinje cell layer (PCL) until reaching the molecular layer.\nIn the molecular layer, stellate cells change orientation and positioning until they reach their final placement, guided by [Bergmann glial cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/bergmann-glial-cell).\n\n# Function\nStellate cells receive Excitatory Post Synaptic Potentials (EPSCs) from parallel fibers.\nThe characteristics of these EPSCs depend on the pattern and frequency of presynaptic activity, influencing the extent and duration of inhibition within the cerebellar cortex.\nSynapses between parallel fibers and stellate cells exhibit plasticity, allowing for long-term changes in synaptic efficacy.\nThis [synaptic plasticity](https://bliptext.com/articles/synaptic-plasticity) can occur at both parallel fiber-stellate cell synapses and parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses, suggesting a role in cerebellar motor learning.\n\n## Neurovascular Coupling\nCerebellar stellate cells also play a crucial role in [neurovascular coupling](https://bliptext.com/articles/neurovascular-coupling).\nElectrophysiological stimulation of single stellate cells is sufficient to release [nitric oxide](https://bliptext.com/articles/nitric-oxide) (NO) and induce dilation of blood vessels.","current_revision":null,"created_by":"kACnuQmH5k9Nr5VNVEpVeg7XpvUmMctD","created_at":"2025-01-25T22:08:47.496Z","updated_at":"2025-01-25T22:08:47.496Z","search_vector":"'cell':2 'stellat':1","search_content":" \n \n**Name:** Stellate cell \n**Image 2:** Diagram of the Microanatomy of Human Cerebellar Cortex.svg \n**Caption 2:** Microcircuitry of the cerebellum. [Excitatory synapses](https://bliptext.com/articles/excitatory-synapses) are denoted by (+) and [inhibitory synapses](https://bliptext.com/articles/inhibitory-synapses) by (-). MF: [Mossy fiber](https://bliptext.com/articles/mossy-fiber-cerebellum). DCN: [Deep cerebellar nuclei](https://bliptext.com/articles/deep-cerebellar-nuclei). IO: [Inferior olive](https://bliptext.com/articles/inferior-olivary-nucleus). CF: [Climbing fiber](https://bliptext.com/articles/climbing-fiber). GC: [Granule cell](https://bliptext.com/articles/granule-cell). PF: [Parallel fiber](https://bliptext.com/articles/parallel-fiber). PC: [Purkinje cell](https://bliptext.com/articles/purkinje-cell). GgC: [Golgi cell](https://bliptext.com/articles/golgi-cell). SC: Stellate cell. BC: [Basket cell](https://bliptext.com/articles/basket-cell). \n \n\n# \n**Stellate cells** are [neurons](https://bliptext.com/articles/neuron) in the [central nervous system](https://bliptext.com/articles/central-nervous-system), named for their star-like shape formed by [dendritic](https://bliptext.com/articles/dendrite) processes radiating from the cell body.\nThese cells play significant roles in various brain functions, including inhibition in the [cerebellum](https://bliptext.com/articles/cerebellum) and excitation in the [cortex](https://bliptext.com/articles/cerebellar-cortex), and are involved in [synaptic plasticity](https://bliptext.com/articles/synaptic-plasticity) and [neurovascular coupling](https://bliptext.com/articles/neurovascular-coupling).\n\n# Morphology\nStellate cells are characterized by their star-shaped dendritic trees.\nDendrites can vary between neurons, with stellate cells being either spiny or aspinous.\nIn contrast, [pyramidal cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/pyramidal-cell), which are also found in the cerebral cortex, are always spiny and pyramid-shaped.\nThe classification of neurons often depends on the presence or absence of dendritic spines: those with spines are classified as spiny, while those without are classified as aspinous.\n\n# Types and locations\n\n## Cerebellar\nMany stellate cells are [GABAergic](https://bliptext.com/articles/gabaergic) and are located in the [molecular layer](https://bliptext.com/articles/[cerebellum](https://bliptext.com/articles/cerebellum)) of the [cerebellum](https://bliptext.com/articles/cerebellum).\nMost common stellate cells are the [inhibitory](https://bliptext.com/articles/inhibitory-postsynaptic-potential) [interneurons](https://bliptext.com/articles/interneurons) found within the upper half of the molecular layer in the cerebellum.\nThese cells synapse onto the [dendritic trees](https://bliptext.com/articles/dendritic-tree) of [Purkinje cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/purkinje-cell) and send inhibitory signals.\nStellate cells are derived from dividing [progenitor cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/progenitor-cell) in the white matter of the postnatal cerebellum.\n\n## Cortical\nStellate neurons are also found in the cortex.\nCortical spiny stellate cells are located in layer IVC of the [primary visual cortex](https://bliptext.com/articles/primary-visual-cortex), and in the somatosensory [barrel cortex](https://bliptext.com/articles/barrel-cortex) of mice and rats, glutamatergic (excitatory) spiny stellate cells are organized in layer 4 of the [barrel cortex](https://bliptext.com/articles/barrel-cortex).\nThese cells receive excitatory synaptic fibers from the thalamus and process feed-forward excitation to layers 2/3 of the primary visual cortex to pyramidal cells.\nCortical spiny stellate cells exhibit a 'regular' firing pattern.\n\n## Other locations\nGABAergic aspinous stellate cells are also found in the [somatosensory cortex](https://bliptext.com/articles/somatosensory-cortex).\nThese cells can be immunohistochemically labeled with [glutamic acid decarboxylase](https://bliptext.com/articles/glutamic-acid-decarboxylase) (GAD) due to their GABAergic activity, and they occasionally colocalize with neuropeptides.\n\n# Development\nStellate and [basket cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/basket-cell) originate from the cerebellar ventricular zone (CVZ) along with [Purkinje cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/purkinje-cell) and [Bergmann glia](https://bliptext.com/articles/bergmann-glia).\nThese cells follow a similar pathway during migration, starting in the deep layer of the white matter, moving through the internal granular layer (IGL) and the Purkinje cell layer (PCL) until reaching the molecular layer.\nIn the molecular layer, stellate cells change orientation and positioning until they reach their final placement, guided by [Bergmann glial cells](https://bliptext.com/articles/bergmann-glial-cell).\n\n# Function\nStellate cells receive Excitatory Post Synaptic Potentials (EPSCs) from parallel fibers.\nThe characteristics of these EPSCs depend on the pattern and frequency of presynaptic activity, influencing the extent and duration of inhibition within the cerebellar cortex.\nSynapses between parallel fibers and stellate cells exhibit plasticity, allowing for long-term changes in synaptic efficacy.\nThis [synaptic plasticity](https://bliptext.com/articles/synaptic-plasticity) can occur at both parallel fiber-stellate cell synapses and parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses, suggesting a role in cerebellar motor learning.\n\n## Neurovascular Coupling\nCerebellar stellate cells also play a crucial role in [neurovascular coupling](https://bliptext.com/articles/neurovascular-coupling).\nElectrophysiological stimulation of single stellate cells is sufficient to release [nitric oxide](https://bliptext.com/articles/nitric-oxide) (NO) and induce dilation of blood vessels.","revisionCount":0},"hasMore":false,"nextCursor":null}

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