Are glia among the cells that express immunoreactive c-Fos in the suprachiasmatic nucleus?
Light physiologically regulates the levels of c-Fos in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), but the identity of most of the cells that express this DNA-binding protein is unknown. To determine whether SCN c-Fos expression is restricted to neurons, we performed light microscopic double-label immunohistochemistry on sections of rat SCN using two c-Fos antibodies in conjunction with antibodies to neurofilament and S-100 proteins (as markers of neuronal and astrocytic cell bodies, respectively). In addition to c-Fos labeled nuclei in neurons, we found a small population of labeled nuclei in glial cell bodies. These observations suggest that c-Fos is expressed in a heterogeneous cell population in the SCN and that its function in circadian clock mechanisms may be cell specific.
Bennett
M R
MR
Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester 01655.
Schwartz
W J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D014746:Vimentin