Characterization of thiamine pyrophosphatase positive phagocytic cells in the neural lobe of rat pituitary.
Here, using a histochemical staining for a microglia/phagocyte marker TPP-ase (Murabe, Sano 1981), and an electron microscopy we characterized the population of pituitary phagocytic cells activated by cerebral ischemia. An intense thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPP-ase) activity was demonstrated in glial cells and some cells of blood vessels of neural lobe, late period (12 months) after experimental ischemia. TPP-ase positive cells were ultrastructurally identified as pituicytes, microglia, pericytes and perivascular cells. The product characteristic for TPP-ase activity was seen on plasma membrane of these cells. Our electron-microscopic histochemical results provide strong support for a role of pituicytes, pericytes and perivascular cells as a phagocytic cells involved in mechanism of elimination of ischemically damaged axonal endings in neural lobe.
Gajkowska
B
B
Laboratory of the Ultrastructure of the Nervous System, Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa.
Walski
M
M
Olszewska
H
H
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000201:enzymology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013834:Thiamine Pyrophosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*
D013834:Thiamine Pyrophosphatase