The chapter discusses the role of the astrocyte in the central nervous system (CNS) injury and disease. Astrocytes comprise as much as 25% of the cells and 35% of the total mass of the CNS. Astrocytes form barriers around blood vessels and connections between nerve cells. Numerous functions have been assigned to the astrocyte depending on its stage of maturation, location in the CNS, and response to CNS insult. Some signals that regulate gene expression in development and response to astrocyte injury are: growth factors, prion protein from Scrapies, neural and immunological adhesion molecules, such as NCAM, LFA-1, gangliosides, low density lipoproteins, cytokines from T-cells, macrophages and other glia, neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, such as catecholamines, monoamines, glutamate, ATP, substance P, and antigen-antibody complexes. Astrocytic responses to these signals include: (1) proliferation, movement and differentiation; (2) changes in shape, cell volume, cytoskeletal organization, endocytic activity, lysosomal fragility, and enzyme content; (3) buffering capacity for K+ , glutamate and GABA; (4) expression of nerve growth factor, tumor necrosis factor, interferon α and β, interleukin 1 and 6, colony stimulating factor-1, fibroblast growth factor, neurotropic factors, neurite promoting agents, MHC class I and I1 histocompatibility antigens, amyloid protein, GD3 ganglioside, ICAM- 1, Na+ channel protein, GFAP, crystallin, vimentin and heat shock proteins.