Neuron-glia interaction in the suprachiasmatic nucleus: a double labeling light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical study in the rat.
The morphological interactions between astroglial and neuronal elements were elucidated in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) by light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry using antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP). Throughout the SCN, particularly in its ventral portion, GFAP-like-immunoreactive (GFAP-LI) astroglial elements were found. These astrocytes displaying GFAP-like immunoreactivity occasionally contained fairly well-developed organelles. Some of these astrocytes were found as satellite cells in close contact with non-immunoreactive neuronal perikarya and processes. Around the neurons, GFAP-LI astroglial processes were also observed to cover some portions of presynaptic and postsynaptic elements. In addition, these astroglial elements were seen between two neuronal somata and pericytes of blood capillaries as glial endfeet. By double labeling immunoelectron microscopy using antibodies against GFAP/VIP and GFAP/AVP, some portions of VIP-like-immunoreactive or AVP-like-immunoreactive neuronal somata and processes were found to be engulfed by GFAP-LI astroglial processes. The possible functional roles of the morphological interactions between astroglial and neuronal elements are discussed.
Tamada
Y
Y
Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Tanaka
M
M
Munekawa
K
K
Hayashi
S
S
Okamura
H
H
Kubo
T
T
Hisa
Y
Y
Ibata
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000032:analysis; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide