Microglial distribution and apoptosis in fetal rat brain.
By histochemical and immunocytochemical techniques, this study aimed to determine the possible involvement of apoptosis in regulating the microglial distribution in fetal rat brain. While microglial cells were labeled with the isolectin Griffonia simplicifolia (GSA I-B4), apoptotic cells were detected by using terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL). TUNEL-labeled cells occurred mainly in the dorsal midline along its rostral-caudal axis of the brain where lectin-labeled microglia were also observed. Occasional TUNEL-labeled cells were observed in the intermediate zone lateral to the striatum (IZS) where lectin-labeled microglia were common from embryonic day 16 (E16) onwards. Some of lectin-labeled microglia showing different morphological forms ingested TUNEL-labeled bodies. In contrast, lectin-labeled microglia showing signs of apoptosis appeared to be lacking. These results clearly demonstrated that lectin-labeled microglia were distributed in areas with and without the occurrence of a large concentration of TUNEL-labeled cells. Our studies suggest that microglia in fetal rat brain will undergo differentiation and activation rather than apoptotic death to govern their population.
Wang
Chao Chuan
CC
Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. ccwang@cc.kmu.edu.tw
Wu
Ching Hsiang
CH
Shieh
Jeng Yung
JY
Wen
Chen Yuan
CY
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D037121:Plant Lectins; D051381:Rats; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
C045475:Griffonia simplicifolia lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins