Retinal astrocyte morphology predicts integration of vascular and neuronal architecture

Astrocytes are important regulators of blood flow and play a key role in the response to injury disease central nervous system (CNS). Despite having an understanding that structural changes these cells have consequences for local neurovascular physiology, individual astrocyte morphology remains largely unexplored retina. Here, we used MORF3 mice capture full membranous over fifteen hundred astrocytes mouse retina, highly metabolically active component CNS. We demonstrate retinal been misrepresented as stellate due marker use like GFAP S100β which underestimates cell complexity. also find contain recurring morphological motifs predictive underlying architecture inner retina suggestive function. These predict fine sampling integration ganglion electrical activity with regulation. Additionally, our data shows participate interactions much greater degree than currently reported. 100% contact vasculature through one three mutually exclusive classes connections. Similarly, some neuronal element, be it RGC axon or soma. Finally, report depends on eccentricity, appearing compressed near nerve head periphery. results reveal large complexity informs their contribution coupling