Research since the mid-1990s has shown that astrocytes propagate intercellular Ca2+ waves over long distances in response to stimulation, and, similar to neurons, release transmitters (called gliotransmitters) in a Ca2+-dependent manner.
Diversas investigacións realizadas desde mediados da década de 1990 atoparon que os astrocitos propagan ondas de Ca2+ intercelulares a longas distancias en resposta á estimulación, e, igual que as neuronas, poden liberar certos transmisores (chamados gliotransmisores) dun modo dependente do Ca2+.