title: Microglial cells in the central nervous system of the rabbit and rat: cytochemical identification using two different lectins.
abstract: Microglial cells were selectively demonstrated in the central nervous system of adult rabbits and rats using lectin histochemistry. Biotinylated Ricinus communis agglutinin-120 (RCA-1) and biotinylated Griffonia simplicifolia B4 isolectin (GSA I-B4) were used as histochemical markers on sections of Bouin-fixed paraffin-embedded cerebrum and cerebellum. Results were quite similar using both lectins and both species. GSA I-B4 resulted in a better staining in the rat, while RCA-1 labelling was superior in the rabbit. Neither neurons nor glial cells other than microglia were stained with our technique. Lectin histochemistry applied for the detection of microglial cells appears to be of sufficient selectivity and may be considered as an important tool in the morphological and neurobiological study of these cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and General Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boya
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Carbonell
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borregon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C045475:Griffonia simplicifolia lectins; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C017707:Ricinus communis agglutinin-1