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PubMed1986

Glioarchitectonics of the rat spinal cord.

The glioarchitectonics of the rat spinal cord has been studied. The fibrous astrocytes are located in the white matter and according to their morphology three layers have been described. In the grey matter, protoplasmic astrocytes and some fibrous astrocytes in the periependymal commisures have been observed. The astrocytic distribution in grey and white matter seems to be uniform except two small condensations: one periependymal and the other in the deepest zone of the anterior medial groove. The protoplasmic astrocytes seem to be more related with the blood vessels than the fibrous astrocytes. The perineuronal astrocytes were scarce. Smooth protoplasmic astrocytes and perineuronal nets of glia have been also described in the grey matter.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Malignancy grading of glial tumors. I. Astrocytomas].

A total of 91 fibrillar, protoplasmic and gemistocytic astrocytomas, 56 pilocytic astrocytomas and 70 glioblastomas, surgically obtained from 1973 to 1979, were evaluated. A four-grade malignancy system was applied to the astrocytomas. The grading criteria for the astrocytomas included quantitative cell density, cellular and nuclear polymorphism, mitotic activity, proliferative changes in the vascular elements and degree of necrosis. Using these criteria it was possible to distinguish four grades. Astrocytoma grades 1 and 2 correspond to the rubric "low-grade astrocytoma" in the English nomenclature, grades 3 and 4 to "high-grade astrocytoma". From the 91 fibrillar, protoplasmic and gemistocytic astrocytomas there were 12, 29, 31 and 19 tumors in grades 1 to 4 respectively. The corresponding distribution for the 56 pilocytic astrocytomas was 20, 29, 6, 1. Median survival for the fibrillar, protoplasmic and gemistocytic group for malignancy grades 1-4 were 43.8, 33.5, 8.4 and 5.6 months respectively. The corresponding figures for the pilocytic astrocytomas grades 1-3 were greater than 66, greater than 69, and 20.0 months.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Plasticity of developing cerebellar cells in vitro studied with antibodies against the NG2 antigen.

The NG2 antigen, a chondroitin-sulfate proteoglycan, is a cell surface marker for a class of smooth protoplasmic astrocytes found throughout the brain and at high frequency in the cerebellar molecular layer (Levine and Card, 1987). To study the development of the cerebellar astrocytes at the level of the single cell, we have analyzed the distribution of the NG2 antigen by indirect immunofluorescence in dissociated cell cultures prepared from postnatal cerebella and compared that distribution to the distribution of several other cell surface and intracellular antigens that identify specific cell types in cultures of nervous tissue. When cerebellar cells from 5 d rat pups were grown in a medium containing 10% fetal calf serum, the NG2-labeled cells, which constituted 0.1-1.0% of the total glial cells present, contained glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactive filaments and bound monoclonal antibody A2B5, a surface marker for neurons and some astrocytes. Approximately 30% of the NG2-labeled cells were also labeled with tetanus toxin, an additional surface marker for neurons and immature astrocytes. Less than 2% of the cells were labeled with antibodies against galactocerebroside or with monoclonal antibody O1, both of which are surface markers for oligodendrocytes. About half the NG2-labeled cells exhibited high-affinity uptake of 3H-GABA, and this uptake was partially inhibited by both beta-alanine and DABA. Thus, the NG2 antigen is a cell surface marker for a subpopulation of the type II or fibrous astrocytes present in the cultures. When the cerebellar cells were grown in a chemically defined, serum-free medium, the NG2-labeled cells had a stellate morphology and between 50-60% of the cells bound tetanus toxin. Although almost all the cells bound antibody A2B5, less than 5% of the cells expressed either of the oligodendrocyte surface markers or GFAP immunoreactivity. As was the case with cells grown in serum-containing medium, 60% of the NG2-labeled cells had high-affinity uptake of 3H-GABA. However, this uptake was inhibited by DABA but not by beta-alanine. This phenotype may be the in vitro analog of the NG2-labeled, filament-lacking, smooth protoplasmic astrocytes identified in the intact adult cerebellum. The expression of these 2 phenotypes could be reversed by switching the tissue culture medium within 5 d of plating the cells. These results demonstrate that the in vitro environment can influence the phenotypic properties expressed by developing cerebellar astrocytes and suggest that smooth protoplasmic astrocytes may be developmentally related to glial cells of the O-2A lineage.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

[An autopsy case of multicentric glioma of multiple histopathology].

An autopsy case is described of an 66-year-old man with multicentric glioma of multiple histopathology, i.e. protoplasmic astrocytoma and glioblastoma. Enhanced CT scan revealed three separate lesions in the right cerebral hemisphere, pons, and cerebellar vermis. Initial diagnosis by CT included metastatic and primary brain tumor, multiple abscess, fungal infection, parasites, tuberculoma, and so on. Biopsy of the right frontal mass revealed astrocytoma grade-2. An autopsy revealed gelatinous, clear marginal mass in the right frontal, parietooccipital and cerebellar vermis; an opaque marginal mass with necrosis in dorsal pons was found. At microscopic examination, the right frontal tumor exhibited continuity with both the paraventricular and the right parietooccipital tumor. The right cerebral hemisphere and cerebellar vermis tumors showed protoplasmic astrocytoma; the dorsal pons tumor showed glioblastoma. CSF examination revealed no tumor cells. Tumor invasion of the internal capsule and the meninges was also not found. Accordingly, we diagnosed as multicentric astrocytoma of multiple histopathology. Only 11 case reports of multicentric glioma were recorded in Japan; only one of which was of multiple histopathology. Worldwide, only 7 case reports of multicentric glioma of multiple histopathology were recorded; this is the first case of protoplasmic astrocytoma and glioblastoma. Seen in terms of pathogenesis of multicentric glioma, this case is thought to be very interesting.

Astrocytoma↗
PubMed1985

Characterization of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis antigenic proteins.

The characterization of a purified antigen from Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, recently made commercially available for use in serodiagnosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), of paratuberculosis in cattle was described. This assay had 89% specificity and 83% sensitivity for M paratuberculosis infection. The protein/polypeptide composition of the purified antigen was compared with that of a crude protoplasmic extract of strain 18 M paratuberculosis used in the agar-gel immunodiffusion test and ELISA and with that of sonicated strain 19698 M paratuberculosis organisms grown on Dorset-Henley synthetic liquid medium. The sonicated M paratuberculosis contained 27 major proteins/polypeptides; the crude protoplasmic extract, 18; and the purified antigen contained 14 proteins/polypeptides, using sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis analysis. The serologic reactivity of these proteins/polypeptides were defined, using the enzyme-linked immuno-electrotransfer blot technique. The sonicated M paratuberculosis contained 20 serologically reactive proteins/polypeptides (34,000 to 84,000 daltons); the crude protoplasmic extract contained 3 (37,000 to 45,000 daltons); and the purified extract contained a diffuse polypeptide band (34,000 to 38,000 daltons). Identification by enzyme-linked immuno-electrotransfer blot technique of M paratuberculosis antigens reactive in the ELISA will allow us to further study these antigens in the ELISA to improve sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic test.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Observations of microtubules and microtubule-microfilament associations in osmotically treated cells of Micrasterias denticulata Bréb.

As an extension of the observation and interpretation regarding the different microtubule systems of Micrasterias denticulata [12, 19], the existence of intertubular structures, such as microfilaments, which are strongly marked in osmotically treated cells, is especially interesting. The complex of microtubules and microfilaments occurs during post-telophase nuclear migration, probably engaged in the mechanism of movement. The arrangement of microtubules either parallel or perpendicular to the nuclear membrane is characteristic for the stage of nuclear migration. Another microtubule system, the microtubule band in the cortical protoplasm of the isthmus region [12], is described during morphogenesis of the new half cell. Osmotically treated cells in the stage of septum formation demonstrate the presence of cross-linked microtubules near the plasmalemma and microtubule bundles, situated in the protoplasm between the secondary wall and the chloroplast, probably representing the microtubule system in the cortical protoplasm of the old half cell described by Kiermayer [12, 16]. The frequent appearance of microtubules and intertubular structures in differentiating cells of Micrasterias denticulata after osmotic treatment is discussed along with implication for stabilization of microtubules, cross bridges, and microfilaments.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1982

Endoplasmic veins from plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum: a new strand model defined age, structure, and behavior.

Pure endoplasm from plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum taken up into glass pipettes and subsequently extruded into water forms a long protoplasmic cylinder uniform in diameter, which is designated as an "endoplasmic vein". This new experimentally obtained model has proven advantageous for tensiometric investigation of contraction activity. During the process of aging, this model undergoes processes of 1. actin transformations, 2. cytoplasmic actomyosin fibrillogenesis and 3. development of a new plasmalemma invagination system. Within approximately 20 min the newly formed plasmalemma invaginations delimit an endoplasmic channel and shuttle streaming along the longitudinal axis appears in the artificially generated protoplasmic strands. The geometrical shape of this strand model permits unidirectional tensiometric measurements of contractile and mechanical properties of the endoplasm during the early stages of its transformation to an ectoplasmic tube. Tensiometric and morphologic observations reveal that the process of actomyosin fibrillogenesis in the early stage of development of endoplasmic veins is temporally correlated with an increase in the force output under isometric conditions of tensiometric measurement. Young's modulus, which represents mechanical properties of the model (0.8-1.4 X 10(5) dyne/cm2), is in the range of values observed in normal isolated protoplasmic strands. The advantages of the new model for the investigation of cyclic contraction behaviour are discussed.

Actins↗
PubMed1980

Influence of different freeze-fracture pretreatments on the fine structure of Physarum polycephalum. A freeze-fracture and freeze-substitution study.

The influence of different fixatives (glutaraldehyde, osmium, osmium/glutaraldehyde, and osmium/mercuric chloride) and freeze-protecting agents (glycerol and sucrose) on the fine-structural preservation of micro- and macroplasmodia of the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum was investigated in both freeze-substituted and freeze-fractured material. Glutaraldehyde fixation and subsequent infiltration with glycerol or sucrose caused severe destruction in the morphology of plasmodial strands and protoplasmic drops, whereas osmium- or osmium/mercuric chloride fixation prevented the formation of normal fracture planes running through the hydrophobic core of the plasma membranes. A short prefixation in a mixture of osmium/glutaraldehyde followed by postfixation in glutaraldehyde delivered the most satisfactory results in the preservation of the fine structure. For comparison, the distribution of integrated membrane particles (IMP) was analysed in freeze-fracture replicas of unfixed controls as well as glutaraldehyde- and osmium/glutaraldehyde-fixed specimens by evaluating the number of IMP per 1 micrometer 2 in two different plasmodial regions; in the peripheral plasmalemma and in the central plasmalemmal invaginations. In controls not receiving chemical pretreatment and in specimens fixed with osmium/glutaraldehyde, the central plasmalemmal invaginations showed a clearly reduced total amount of IMP (exoplasmic + protoplasmic fracture face: about 3100) as compared with the peripheral plasma membrane (about 3700). In addition both membrane systems were characterized by an asymmetrical distribution of IMP between the protoplasmic fracture face (PF) and the exoplasmic fracture face (EF): the PF:EF ratio (particle partition coefficient) in the peripheral plasma membrane is the same in controls and in osmium/glutaraldehyde-fixed specimens (2.4:1 and 2.5:1, respectively), whereas the PF:EF ratio in the central plasmalemmal invaginations is 1.5:1 in controls and 3.5:1 in fixed specimens. This shows that the membrane of the central plasmalemmal invaginations is more sensitive to chemical fixation than the peripheral plasmalemma. The results point to differences in the physiological properties and functions between the plasmalemma of the cell periphery and the plasmalemma of the invagination system.

Cell Membrane↗
PubMed1980

Contraction rhythm in the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum: dependence of the period on the amplitude, temperature and chemical environment.

The plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum exhibits a characteristic protoplasmic shuttle streaming and generates periodical tension. We determined the factors which govern the period of the contraction rhythm by measuring isometric tension of the plasmodial strand and the motive force of the protoplasmic streaming under a variety of conditions by changing the size of plasmodia, chemical composition of environment and surrounding temperatures. The results are: (1) The period of contraction rhythm, tau, increased linearly with the amplitude of oscillating tension, F, and was expressed by the following empirical equation when F was lower than a certain critical value, Fc, i.e., tau = aF+tau O. Above Fc, tau stayed at a constant level of tau S. There, a tau O and tau S are numerical constants which are independent of F. A similar relationship is valid for the amplitude of the motive force of the protoplasmic streaming, delta P. (2) Values of tau O were 1.0 min in air and 1.6 min in an aqueous medium and they were independent of temperature. (3) The Arrhenius plots of the parameter "a" exhibited different straight lines in air and in aqueous medium, from which the values of Q10 were determined to be 4.0 and 10, respectively. (4) Lowering of temperature decreased Fc, and eventually diminished it at Tc (= 15 degrees C). (5) The presence of glucose, CaCl2, MgCl2 and NaCl gave the identical tau-F relationship. Applications od D2O and ethanol slowed down the contraction rhythm, while that of KCl accelerated the rhythm. However, all these chemicals did not affect the tau O value. All results described above indicate that the contraction rhythm in the plasmodium is influenced by three components: a limit cycle which is independent of tension generation, a component which is strongly linked to the amplitude of the tension, F, and the part which is independent of the value of F. External factors appear to influence separately these three components of the contraction rhythm.

Cytoplasmic Streaming↗
PubMed1996

Ganglioside GD3 in radial glia and astrocytes in situ in brains of young and adult mice.

Ganglioside GD3 occurs in immature cells in the neuroectoderm. However, with regard to particular cellular locations of GD3, rat brain has received more attention than mouse brain. In brains from neonatal mice the most intense GD3 immunostaining appears to occur in structures that differ from those that immunostain the most intensely in brains from neonatal rats (Cammer and Zhang: J Histochem Cytochem 44: 143-149, 1996). In the present study epifluorescence and confocal microscopy were used for the purpose of identifying the types of GD3-immunopositive structures in brains of neonatal, 2-week-old, and adult mice. Vibratome sections from mouse brains were double immunostained for GD3 and respective markers for macrophages, microglia, and cells belonging to the oligodendrocyte lineage. Surprisingly, none of those marker antigens immunostained intensely in the same respective structures as GD3. The GD3-positive structures, however, did resemble protoplasmic astrocytes and radial glia, some with GD3-positive end-feet at the glia limitans; however, we did not rule out the possibility that there might be some GD3 on the surfaces of prooligodendroblasts. The scarcity of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells in brains of neonatal mice made it impractical to look for GD3+/GFAP+ structures that might belong to the astrocyte lineage. The Mu subunit of glutathione-S-transferase (Mu) was shown to label radial glia and the few GFAP-positive cells in brains of neonatal mice. Subsequently, confocal microscopy showed Mu and GD3 to be colocalized in radial glia and protoplasmic astrocytes in the neonate. In brains from mice > or = 2 weeks of age GD3 immunostaining was demonstrated in GFAP-positive astrocytes, including reactive astrocytes. Much of the GD3 appeared to occur at the tips of astrocyte processes. It is suggested that GD3 in radial glia and astrocytes may function as a ligand enabling recognition of those structures by neurons or as a precursor of more complex gangliosides in neurons.

Aging↗
PubMed2006

Damage of serotonergic axons and immunolocalization of Hsp27, Hsp72, and Hsp90 molecular chaperones after a single dose of MDMA administration in Dark Agouti rat: temporal, spatial, and cellular patterns.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") causes long-term disturbance of the serotonergic system. We examined the temporal, spatial, and cellular distribution of three molecular chaperones, Hsp27, Hsp72, and Hsp90, 3 and 7 days after treatment with 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg single intraperitoneal (i.p.) doses of MDMA in Dark Agouti rat brains. Furthermore, we compared the immunostaining patterns of molecular chaperones with serotonergic axonal-vulnerability evaluated by tryptophan-hydroxylase (TryOH) immunoreactivity and with astroglial-activation detected by GFAP-immunostaining. There was a marked reduction in TryOH-immunoreactive axon density after MDMA treatment in all examined areas at both time points. Three days after treatment, a significant dose-dependent increase in Hsp27-immunoreactive protoplasmic astrocytes was found in the cingulate, frontal, occipital, and pyriform cortex, and in the hippocampus CA1. However, there was no increase in astroglial Hsp27-immunoreactivity in the caudate putamen, lateral septal nucleus, or anterior hypothalamus. A significant increase in the GFAP immunostaining density of protoplasmic astrocytes was found only in the hippocampus CA1. In addition, numerous strong Hsp72-immunopositive neurons were found in some brain areas only 3 days after treatment with 30 mg/kg MDMA. Increased Hsp27-immunoreactivity exclusively in the examined cortical areas reveals that Hsp27 is a sensitive marker of astroglial response to the effects of MDMA in these regions of Dark Agouti rat brain and suggests differential responses in astroglial Hsp27-expression between distinct brain areas. The co-occurrence of Hsp27 and GFAP response exclusively in the hippocampus CA1 may suggest the particular vulnerability of this region. The presence of strong Hsp72-immunopositive neurons in certain brain areas may reflect additional effects of MDMA on nonserotonergic neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Distribution of nuclear pores and chromatin organization in neurons and glial cells of the rat cerebellar cortex.

Nuclear pores were assessed on freeze-fracture replicas from different neuronal and glial cell types of the rat cerebellar cortex. Nuclear diameter and perimeter were measured on semithin sections, and nuclear surface area and volume were calculated from these data. The proportion of inner nuclear membrane in apposition to condensed chromatin was measured on thin sections. The values of nuclear pore numerical density (number/micron2) were as follows (mean +/- S.D.): Purkinje cells, 22 +/- 3; Golgi cells 17 +/- 3; granule cells, 6 +/- 4; stellate and basket cells, 6 +/- 1; protoplasmic astrocytes, 11 +/- 1; Bergmann glia, 10 +/- 1; oligodendrocytes, 6 +/- 1. The total number of nuclear pores per nucleus varied from 18,451 +/- 2,336 (Purkinje cells) to 621 +/- 394 (granule cells) among neurons, and from 1,782 +/- 162 (protoplasmic astrocytes) to 402 +/- 67 (oligodendrocytes) among glial cells. The number of nuclear pores per unit nuclear volume (number/micron3), a parameter related to nucleocytoplasmic transport capacity, varied from 15 +/- 2 in Purkinje cells to 6 +/- 4 in granule cells. The proportion of nuclear membrane free of condensed chromatin was significantly (P less than 0.01) correlated to pore numerical density and total number of pores per nucleus. Some nuclear pores were associated in clusters of two or more pores. The amount of pore clustering was measured by counting the proportion of pores associated in clusters. This proportion varied among the different cell types from 82% in Purkinje cells to 44% in stellate and basket cells. The amount of pore clustering showed a positive linear correlation to pore numerical density and pore number per nucleus. However, the proportion of pores in clusters was not significantly correlated with the amount of condensed chromatin applied against the inner nuclear membrane.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Ischemia-induced programmed cell death in astrocytes.

Astrocytes are essential for neuronal survival and function, neurogenesis, and neural repair. Although astrocytes are more resistant than neurons to most stress conditions in vitro, certain astrocyte subtypes, such as the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-negative protoplasmic astrocytes that predominate in gray matter structures, may be equally or more sensitive than neurons to ischemia in vivo. Programmed cell death differs from passive, necrotic death in that cell constituents actively participate in cell demise. Like neurons, astrocytes undergo programmed cell death during normal development. Cell culture studies have shown that astrocytes can be induced to undergo apoptosis and other forms of programmed cell death by many factors relevant to ischemia, including acidosis, oxidative stress, substrate deprivation, and cytokines. Animal models of cerebral ischemia have confirmed nuclear condensation and upregulation of Bax and caspases in a subset of astrocytes exposed to ischemia, especially in immature brain. A causal role for these events in astrocyte death is supported by improved astrocyte survival after inhibition of caspase-dependent cell death pathways. Astrocyte survival is also improved by blocking the poly(ADP-ribose)-1 cell death pathway. Markers of programmed cell death are generally less evident and less widespread in astrocytes than in neighboring neurons. However, most studies to date have relied only on markers of classical apoptosis. In addition, these studies have relied almost exclusively on GFAP to identify astrocytes. Since most protoplasmic astrocytes are poorly immunoreactive for GFAP, the extent of ischemia-induced programmed cell death in this cell type remains uncertain.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Distribution of metallothionein in the human central nervous system.

The distribution of metallothionein (MT), a metal-binding protein, was examined immunohistochemically in the normal human brain and spinal cord. Paraffin-embedded brain tissue from three patients who had died from a non-neurological disease and were free of histopathological central nervous system alterations were processed. The results of the present study demonstrate that MT is readily detectable in a subgroup of astrocytes in the normal human brain. MT staining is most intense on grey matter astrocytes that bear short stout processes and which probably represent protoplasmic astrocytes. Using anti-MT and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein immunostaining, we could demonstrate two subpopulations of astrocytes that were mutually exclusive. The functional significance of MT-expression in protoplasmic astrocytes is not entirely clear. Metal detoxification is only one of the many postulated functions of MT. The finding that staining for MT permits subtyping of astrocytes may be of great importance in glia research and surgical pathology of the human brain.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Human angiotensinogen is highly expressed in astrocytes in human cortical grafts.

Human fetal parietal cortical tissue was transplanted to cortical cavities in immunosuppressed rats. Protoplasmic astrocytes in the human cortical grafts highly expressed human angiotensinogen mRNA as identified with 35S-labeled and digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes combined with immunohistochemistry for glial fibrillary acidic protein. Antibodies to human specific neurofilament protein 70 KD were used to characterize neurons in the graft and fiber outgrowth into the host brain. Immunohistochemistry revealed human angiotensinogen-like immunoreactivity in many small protoplasmic astrocytes and very few large neurons. These results demonstrate that human angiotensinogen mRNA and protein is synthesized in immature human glia. We assume that angiotensinogen is transformed into angiotensin peptides, which may participate in the regulation of growth processes. The results suggest that human angiotensinogen may play a role during human embryogenesis.

Angiotensinogen↗
PubMed1994

Atrial natriuretic peptide-like (ANP-LIR) and ANP prohormone immunoreactive astrocytes and neurons of human cerebral cortex.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) represents a family of related peptides originally isolated from cardiac atria that have potent natriuretic, diuretic, and vasorelaxant properties. ANP has previously been localized in neurons of the rat brain in regions subserving cardiovascular functions and fluid/electrolyte balance and has been localized in astroglia of the canine brain. To determine whether ANP is present in astrocytes of the human brain and to validate the canine model for future studies, human brain tissue was obtained from autopsy cases with no brain damage or neurological or vascular disease. Human brains were obtained less than 3 h postmortem, and anterior cingulate and striate cortices were dissected following perfusion or immersion fixation. Immunohistochemical processing utilized antibodies against the processed form of ANP (ANP IV, ANP104-128) and against rat proANP (amino terminus) and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. Isolated, strongly ANP-immunoreactive protoplasmic astrocytes were observed in all layers of the cingulate and striate cortex gray matter. ANP-positive fibrous astrocytes were observed in the white matter. Additionally, distinctive immunopositive astrocytes were found both within and immediately subjacent to the glia limitans. Antibody against the prohormone stained only protoplasmic astrocytes and sublimitans astrocytes and processes. In addition to the astroglia, ANP was detected in scattered multipolar neurons in the cerebral gray matter. These results provide additional evidence for diversity of peptide localization in astrocytes and suggest roles for ANP in the local regulation of cerebral blood flow, blood-brain barrier permeability, or cerebrospinal fluid volume.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Relationship between astrocytic processes and "perineuronal nets" in rat neocortex.

"Perineuronal nets" (PNs) ensheath a subtype of inhibitory neurons in the mammalian neocortex. In the light of the proposal that PNs consist of glial processes, we have analyzed the relationship between intracellularly injected glial cells and PNs in the rat neocortex. Glial cells were injected iontophoretically with Lucifer Yellow in lightly fixed tissue slices and PNs were visualized with the lectin from Vicia villosa. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, glial processes and PNs were identified as distinct structures. Lectin labeling was consistently associated with the extracellular space interposed between LY-labeling was consistently associated with the extracellular space interposed between LY-labeled astrocyte processes and neurons. Of the different types of glial cells injected, only the densely-ramifying protoplasmic astrocytes extended processes which could be traced to contact PNs. These protoplasmic astrocytes also sent out processes to adjacent neurons not ensheathed by PNs, and to capillaries. The present data strongly suggests that PNs do not consist of glial processes but rather support the idea that PNs represent specialized extracellular material interposed between the surface of some inhibitory interneurons and astrocytic processes.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Ischemic tolerance in chemical preconditioning: possible role of astrocytic glutamine synthetase buffering glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity.

Glutamine synthetase (GS), localized to astrocyte is a key enzyme in the glutamate-glutamine pathway in the brain. 3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) is an irreversible inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase in the tricarboxylic-acid cycle, and provides ischemic tolerance to the brain. So far, there have been no reports on the relationship of astrocytic GS and ischemic tolerance by chemical preconditioning. In order to test the hypothesis that astrocytes serve a pivotal role in 3-NPA-induced chemical preconditioning, we have investigated the temporal profile of GS expression in astrocyte parallel with those of glial fibrillary acidic protein and heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70). In our rat model of permanent focal ischemia, preconditioning with 3-NPA singnificantly reduced the subsequent neurological deficits and infarct volume within 24-72 hours after treatment. Immunohistochemically, protoplasmic astrocytes in the cortex and striatum were activated in terms of upregulation of GS and more abundant protoplasmic processes with 3-NPA preconditioning, however, HSP70 expression could not be induced. Thus, the activation of astrocytes and upregulation of GS play an important role in 3-NPA-induced preconditioning but HSP70 does not. In view of glutamate being imposed on the cerebral ischemic damage, the astrocytic GS may contribute to 3-NPA-induced ischemic tolerance.

Animals↗