title: Ovarian cycle-related changes of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity in the rat interpeduncular nucleus.
abstract: The interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) of female rats was studied across the estrous cycle to observe whether the expression of the astroglial marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) reacts to hormonal changes in an area not belonging to the 'endocrine brain'. A marked reduction of immunoreactive GFAP was observed in estrus as compared to the immunoreactivities in met- and proestrus. This finding is consistent with earlier observations in the endocrine hypothalamus, but also proves that gonadal steroids influence astroglia in brain regions not involved in neuroendocrine regulation. Since cyclic fluctuations of synaptic numbers in the female have been described only for the endocrine hypothalamus, decrease of immunoreactive GFAP in the IPN during estrus may reflect a down-regulation of GFAP synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary Science, H-1400, Budapest, Hungary. fhajos@ns.univet.hu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hajós
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Halasy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerics
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Szalay
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Michaloudi
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008032:Limbic System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones