Table 4 Individualized reactive astrocytes variants

Pilocytic astrocytes [23, 24]

• In mild and moderate injuries as individual form of reactive astrocytes

• Elongated, bipolar cell body

These cells contain the Rosenthal fibers (specific but inconstant eosinophilic, cork-screw shaped elements), representing an advanced stage of cellular degeneration in astrocytoma

• Astrocytoma

• Fusiform nuclei

• Thin and long hair-like GFAP⁺ processes

Gemistocytic astrocytes [23, 24]

• In mild and moderate injuries as individual form of reactive astrocytes

• Large, dilatated, oval cell body

The organelles are numerous and located in the central zone of the cell body. The glial filaments are also numerous and peripherally arranged, beneath the plasmalemma

• In gemistocytic astrocytoma as a characteristic feature of this tumors [23]

• Few thick cytoplasmic processes

• Abundant, deeply eosinophilic cytoplasm

• Polymorphic nuclei, frequently eccentrical.

Alzheimer type I astrocytes [23, 24]

• Progressive multifocal leuco-encephalopathy

• Enlarged cell body

• Numerous nuclei

Alzheimer type II astrocytes [23, 24]

• Associated with high blood ammonia in hepatic encephalopathy

• Enlarged cell body

Ammonia taken up by astrocytes is converted to osmotically active glutamine, resulting in astrocytic swelling

• In Wilson disease

• Vesicular nuclei with one or more nucleoli