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Astrocytic AQP4 Function

Meaning

The Astrocytic AQP4 Function refers to the critical, specialized role of Aquaporin-4 water channels located on the perivascular endfeet of astrocytes, the brain’s supportive glial cells. This function is essential for regulating the movement of water and solutes between the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the brain’s interstitial fluid (ISF), which is the core of the glymphatic waste clearance system. Optimized AQP4 activity is fundamental for maintaining the precise fluid dynamics necessary for neuronal health and cognitive performance. Impaired astrocytic AQP4 function directly compromises the brain’s detoxification capacity, linking it to neurodegenerative processes.