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.
Laboratory of the Ultrastructure of the Nervous System, Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa.
B
B
Gajkowska
M
M
Walski
H
H
Olszewska
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