Decrease of NCAM expression and astrocyte-neurone interaction in long-term cultured astrocytes.
In order to assess the characteristics of the older astrocyte, we obtained long-term cultured rat astrocytes (20 months) and examined the features of protein expression in relation to neuronal interaction. In short-term cultured astrocytes, NCAM expressed strongly in contrast to weak expression of laminin by both immunocytochemical and ELISA assay. On the contrary, in long-term cultured astrocytes, a marked decrease of NCAM expression was observed along with increased laminin expression compared with short-term cultured astrocytes. The long-term cultured astrocytes remained positive to anti-GFAP antibody and showed a much lower ability to interact with neurones than the short-term cultured astrocytes. NCAM may be one of the responsible molecules related to the astrocyte-neurone interaction in the developing and ageing nervous system.
Yazaki
T
T
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Asou
H
H
Arimoto
K
K
Toya
S
S
Uyemura
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007797:Laminin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007797:Laminin