Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the central nervous system (CNS) and they provide a variety of vital functions for the CNS including: establishment and regulation of the blood brain barrier, functional support for neuronal transmission, survival of neurons, anti-inflammatory responses and wound repair. Astrocytes have also been implicated in various pathological processes such as reactive gliosis. Impairment of normal astrocyte functions during stroke and other insults can critically influence neuron survival. Long-term recovery after brain injury, through neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity, or neuron regeneration, is also influenced by astrocyte surface molecule expression and trophic factor release. Numerous studies have demonstrated that astrocytes are among the most functionally diverse group of cells in the CNS. Rat astrocytes-adult (RA-a) are a useful in vitro model for studying adult glial function and the molecular mechanisms of CNS diseases such as ischemic stroke and multiple sclerosis. RA-a from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from adult rat brain. RA-a are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. RA-a are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibody specific to GFAP. RA-a are negative for mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi. RA-a are guaranteed to further expand for 5 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories. Recommended Medium It is recommended to use Astrocyte Medium-animal (AM-a, Cat. #1831) for culturing RA-a in vitro.