title: Microglia in normal and regenerating visual pathways of the tench (Tinca tinca L., 1758; Teleost): a study with tomato lectin.
abstract: We have studied the microglial cells in the normal and regenerating visual pathways of Tinca tinca (Cyprinid, Teleost) by using the lectin from Lycopersicum esculentum (tomato), which, in our case, has been demonstrated as a specific marker for teleost microglia. In the normal fish, there are tomato lectin positive microglial cells in the retina, optic nerve, and optic tectum. Following optic nerve crush, we observed a more extensive labeling of the microglia in the crushed optic nerve and in the contralateral optic tectum affecting the stratum opticum and stratum fibrosum et griseum superficiale. In both cases, there was an increase of rounded and less ramified microglial cells, and granular cells. This response of a more extensive labeling of microglial cells increases to a maximum at 2-3 weeks after the crush; the density of labeled microglial cells decreases after 3 months after crushing. However, in the retina no changes were observed after optic nerve crush. These results suggest that the microglial cells could play an important role in regeneration of fish optic pathway, as other neuroglial cells do.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Cellular, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velasco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caminos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vecino
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aijón
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003530:Cyprinidae; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D037102:Lectins; D017628:Microglia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000166:cytology* / Q000601:surgery; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D014795:Visual Pathways
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011134:Polysaccharides; C034981:tomato lectin; C037199:poly-N-acetyllactosamine