title: Immunocytochemical detection of the microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase in human brain astrocytes.
abstract: Using an antibody raised against the catalytic subunit of glucose-6-phosphatase, this enzyme was immunolocalized in many astrocytes in 20 normal human brains. Double immunofluorescence studies showed co-localization of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) with glucose-6-phosphatase in astrocytes. However, not all GFAP-positive cells were also glucose-6-phosphatase positive, indicating that some astrocytes do not contain demonstrable expression of this enzyme. Reactive astrocytes in a variety of abnormal brains were strongly glucose-6-phosphatase positive, but neoplastic astrocytes were often only weakly positive. Expression of the enzyme could not be demonstrated in radial glia, neurons or oligodendroglia. Astrocytes normally contain glycogen and the demonstration that some astrocytes also contain glucose-6-phosphatase indicates that they are competent for both glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, which may be critical for neuronal welfare.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Edinburgh.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hume
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Busuttil
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burchell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D005404:Fixatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005865:Gestational Age; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005947:Glucose / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008861:Microsomes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005404:Fixatives; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D005952:Glucose-6-Phosphatase; D005947:Glucose