Are microglial and astroglial reactions always bad for the brain?
NO. The microglia and astroglia in the CNS may have a two-sided role in the inflammatory responses of the brain: they can act both as direct effectors of injury and on the other hand as protectors of the brain. In some situations, microglia and astroglia may produce neurotoxic reactions that damage other cells such as neurons and oligodendrocytes in the brain. However, there is strong evidence from experimental models that in some situations, both microglia and astroglia also contribute to the repair and restoration of neuronal connections and produce growth factors to maintain normal CNS function. • Are microglial and astroglial activation the result of residual damage or ongoing damage to the brain? It remains unclear how and when microglia and astroglia become activated in the brain of autistic patients. Neuroglial responses in autism may be part of primary (intrinsic) reactions that result from disturbances in neuroglial function or neuronal-neuroglial interactions during brain dev
