title: Ultrastructure of junction areas between neurons and astrocytes in rat supraoptic nuclei.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the ultrastructure of junction areas between neurons and astrocytes of supraoptic nuclei in rats orally administered 30 g/L NaCl solution for 5 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-connexin (CX) 43 and anti-CX32 double immunoelectromicroscopic labeled method, and anti-Fos or anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry were used to detect changes in the junctional area between neurons and astrocytes in supraoptic nuclei of 5 rats after 30 g/L NaCL solution was given for 5days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A heterotypic connexin32/connexin43 gap junction (HGJ) between neurons and astrocytes (AS) in rat supraoptic nuclei was observed, which was characterized by the thickening and dark staining of cytomembranes with a narrow cleft between them. The number of HGJs and Fos like immunoreactive (-LI) cells was significantly increased following hyperosmotic stimuli, that is, the rats were administered 30 g/L NaCl solution orally or 90 g/L NaCl solution intravenously. HGJs could be blocked with carbenoxolone (CBX), a gap junction blocker, and the number of Fos-LI neurons was significantly decreased compared with that in rats without CBX injection, while Fos-LI ASs were not affected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HGJ may be a rapid adaptive signal structure between neurons and ASs in response to stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurosciences, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, Shaanxi Province, China. zrrao@fmmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Chang-Jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Ying-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhi-Ren
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002229:Carbenoxolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D018031:Connexin 43; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D002229:Carbenoxolone