GLIA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does glia mean? 

• GLIA (noun)
  The noun GLIA has 1 sense:

1. sustentacular tissue that surrounds and supports neurons in the central nervous system; glial and neural cells together compose the tissue of the central nervous system

  Familiarity information: GLIA used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GLIA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Sustentacular tissue that surrounds and supports neurons in the central nervous system; glial and neural cells together compose the tissue of the central nervous system

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

glia; neuroglia

Hypernyms ("glia" is a kind of...):

interstitial tissue (tissue between the cells of a structure or part in plant or animal)

Meronyms (parts of "glia"):

glial cell; neurogliacyte; neuroglial cell (a cell of the neuroglia)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "glia"):

astroglia; macroglia (tissue consisting of large stellate neuroglial cells)

microglia (neuroglial tissue of mesodermal origin that can become phagocytic)

oligodendria; oligodendroglia (tissue consisting of glial cells with sheetlike processes that form the myelin sheath of nerve fibers)

Holonyms ("glia" is a part of...):

central nervous system; CNS; systema nervosum centrale (the portion of the vertebrate nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord)

Holonyms ("glia" is a substance of...):

glioma (a tumor of the brain consisting of neuroglia)

Derivation:

glial (of or relating to neuroglia)

 Context examples 

At least half of the brain is comprised of cells called glia and most of them are astrocytes.

(Star-like cells may help the brain tune breathing rhythms, National Institutes of Health)

Sometimes referred to as the stem cells of the zebrafish eye, Müller glia are the cells from which all other types of retinal cells are regenerated in the fish.

(Researchers unlock regenerative potential of cells in the mouse retina, National Institutes of Health)

Katz and his colleagues used mRNA sequencing to show that mouse astrocytes and CEPsh glia have similar genetic signatures, confirming his suspicion.

(Research on repetitive worm behavior has implications for understanding human diseases, National Science Foundation)

Expressed in glia and neurons by human FGF9 Gene (FGF family), 208-aa 23-kDa (precursor) N-glycosylated monomeric secreted Fibroblast Growth Factor 9 has glial growth-stimulating effects and is likely involved in glial cell growth and differentiation, gliosis, and differentiation or survival of neuronal cells.

(Fibroblast Growth Factor 9, NCI Thesaurus)

Information from provider and not independently verified by NIH: Cells are positive for cell markers Oct-4, alkaline phosphatase activity and telomerase activity; Differentiate in vitro into mature neuron, glia cells, muscle cells and beating cardiomyocytes; AFP was also detected in this cells.

(MB01, NCI Thesaurus)

This agent binds to and inhibits gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase and its anticonvulsant activity may be exerted by increasing brain concentration of GABA and by inhibiting enzymes that catabolize GABA or block the reuptake of GABA into glia and nerve endings.

(Divalproex Sodium, NCI Thesaurus)

Analyses of genome structure further shored up evidence that the cells that were once Müller glia had been genetically reprogrammed and were now showing characteristics of interneurons.

(Researchers unlock regenerative potential of cells in the mouse retina, National Institutes of Health)

In studying zebrafish the research team homed in on Müller glia, a type of retinal cell that supports the health and functioning of neighboring neurons, and that also exhibits an innate regenerative ability.

(Researchers unlock regenerative potential of cells in the mouse retina, National Institutes of Health)

Earlier research from Reh’s lab showed that in newborn mice, Müller glia can be directed to become retinal neurons by activating a transcription factor called Ascl1, which in turn activates a suite of genes involved in regeneration.

(Researchers unlock regenerative potential of cells in the mouse retina, National Institutes of Health)