Lack of labelling of microglial cells following microinjection of [3H] beta-alanine: an electron microscopic autoradiographic study.
Following axotomy of the facial nerve, the uptake of [3H] beta-alanine into different types of glial cells in the facial nucleus was studied by autoradiography. A marked proliferation of microglial cells, predominantly in a satellite position to neurons, was accompanied by a localization of [3H] beta--alanine over astrocytes and oligodendrocytes but not over microglial cells. Microglial cells therefore appear to be a functionally distinct cell type and should not be classified with the macroglia.
D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001345:Autoradiography; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
D000409:Alanine