Apparent scarcity of glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in the brain of the pygmy shrew Sorex minutus as revealed by immunocytochemistry

Neuroscience Letters
Seweryn OlkowiczKris Turlejski

Abstract

We examined astroglial cells in the brain of the pygmy shrew Sorex minutus (Insectivora). For that purpose we labeled glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemically in brain sections with a polyclonal antibody. Antigen retrieval experiments were performed to counteract formaldehyde fixation masking of GFAP epitopes. Our results showed remarkable paucity of GFAP-immunoreactive cells and fibers in the cerebral cortex and nuclei, as well as in the majority of the diencephalic and mesencephalic structures. In the forebrain, significant numbers of GFAP-containing astrocytes were found only in the ependyma and subventricular zones, superficial part of layer I of the cerebral cortex, and the majority of white matter structures. In the diencephalon, habenular nuclei were rich in GFAP-immunopositive astrocytes and labeled radial fibers were extended between median eminence and the third ventricle. A considerably higher density of labeled astrocytes was detected in the caudal brainstem and cerebellum. In contrast, in the mouse brain, immunoreactive astrocytes were present in large quantities in various structures. Staining of sections of the shrew brain against glutamine synthetase revealed abundance of immunofluorescent as...Continue Reading

References

Dec 1, 1987·The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry : Official Journal of the Histochemistry Society·P B BellV P Collins
Apr 20, 1983·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·B OntenienteT Maeda
Oct 26, 2000·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Toxicology & Pharmacology : CBP·T MushirodaT Kamataki
Mar 30, 2002·Brain Research Bulletin·Mihály Kálmán
Jul 25, 2003·Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·Christophe J Douady, Emmanuel J P Douzery

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jul 25, 2021·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Katarzyna BartkowskaRuzanna Djavadian

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Barrel cortex

Here is the latest research on barrel cortex, a region of somatosensory and motor corticies in the brain, which are used by animals that rely on whiskers for world exploration.

Astrocytes

Astrocytes are glial cells that support the blood-brain barrier, facilitate neurotransmission, provide nutrients to neurons, and help repair damaged nervous tissues. Here is the latest research.