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Astrocytic Endfeet Polarization

Meaning

Astrocytic Endfeet Polarization describes the non-random, asymmetric distribution of specific proteins, most notably Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels, on the specialized perivascular processes of astrocytes known as endfeet. This precise cellular arrangement, where AQP4 is concentrated at the vascular interface, is a structural prerequisite for directional fluid flow within the brain. Optimal polarization is a biomarker for a healthy neurovascular unit and is essential for the effective function of the glymphatic waste clearance system. Loss of this polarization is frequently observed in aging and neurodegenerative states, impairing detoxification.