Patterns of GFAP-immunoreactivity parallel the tonotopic axis in the developing dorsal cochlear nucleus.
The role of glia in the development of tonotopic and laminar organization in the auditory central nervous system has not been well characterized. In other systems, glia immunoreactive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) appear to function in development of radial, laminar and topographic organization. Using a polyclonal antibody to GFAP, we have characterized the development of GFAP-immunoreactivity in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), a laminated and tonotopically organized central auditory system structure. Results suggest that in this nucleus, the GFAP-immunoreactive processes are not found within or between developing laminae, rather glial processes are observed parallel to presumptive isofrequency sheets before primary afferents have invaded the nucleus. Thus, GFAP-immunoreactive processes are positioned to play an early role in establishing the tonotopic axis of the DCN.
Riggs
G H
GH
Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40292, USA.
Cooper
N G
NG
Schweitzer
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein