A failure of normal astrocyte generation by CNS precursor cells has been discovered to be a consequence of the mutations that cause Vanishing White Matter leukodystrophy [7], and dysfunction of astrocytes has also been suggested to be of importance in models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [8],
forebrain ischemic injury [9], epileptic seizures [10], Huntington's disease [11], tuberous sclerosis [12] and Rett syndrome [13].