Distribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactive astrocytes in the rat brain. II. Mesencephalon, rhombencephalon and spinal cord.
The topographical mapping of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity was performed in coronal serial sections of the rat mesencephalon, rhombencephalon and spinal cord. Relative to a background of poor or moderate overall staining of the mesencephalon, the interpeduncular nucleus, substantia nigra and the periaqueductal grey matter were prominent by their intense GFAP-immunoreactivity. The pons and particularly the medulla contained more GFAP-labelled elements compared with the mesencephalon. The spinal trigeminal nucleus and Rolando substance were distinguished by their intense staining. Large fibre tracts were usually poor in immunoreactive GFAP. In a concluding discussion, findings relevant to the GFAP-mapping of the whole rat CNS are evaluated with regard to possible reasons underlying the observed differential distribution of GFAP-immunoreactivity.
Hajós
F
F
Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary Science, Budapest, Hungary.
Kálmán
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein