The reactive gliosis, sometimes called Astrogliosis or simply Gliosis is refered to a physiological process appearing as a result of damage to the CNS (eg. traumatic brain Injury “TBI”, ischemia, neurodegenerative diseases). Reactive gliosis is as response by glial cells, mainly astrocytes, reacting to an injury and can be reviewed as a healing process. After a CNS injury, the astrocytes around the lesion respond to injury and undergo a typical change of hyperthrophy. These reactive astrocytes are gradually intergrated and form a physical barrier, commonly refered to as glial scar.

Glial Cells

The brain tissue contain two categories of cells, nervous cells and glial cells or, neuroglia. Glial cells are about 10-50 time more numerous than nerve cells and are involved in processes like:

Supply nutrients and oxygen

• Regulation of homeostasis
• Neurotransmission
• Structural support
• Insulation (Myelinating the axons)
• Destroy pathogens and remove dead neurons and metabolites