[Three-dimensional structural reconstruction of the neurons and astrocytes in rat hippocampal CA3 area].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the distribution of the pyramidal neurons and the surrounding astrocytes in rat hippocampal CA3 area and reconstruct their three-dimension structure.


METHODS
Whole-cell patch-clamp recording of the brain slices, intracellular staining with Lucifer yellow, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunofluorescence, and confocal laser scanning microscopy were utilized in this study.


RESULTS
According to the firing patterns, the hippocampal pyramidal neurons were classified into phasic or non-phasic firing neurons. Monolayer scanning and three-dimensional reconstruction showed that many astrocytes aggregated in tight clusters around the pyramidal neurons positive for Lucifer yellow staining, forming close contact. The two types of neurons contacted the astrocytes in different manners. Surrounding the cell body and dendrites of the non-phasic firing neurons, many astrocytes were seen to form contact with the neurons, whereas the phasic firing neurons formed contact with the astrocytes through the dendrites.


CONCLUSIONS
The spatial distribution of the astrocytes surrounding different types of the hippocampal neurons may differ.
Yang
Zhi-jun
ZJ
Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China.
Rao
Zhi-ren
ZR
Xu
Ru-xiang
RX
Wei
Ling
L
Wang
Xiao-bin
XB
Jiang
Xiao-dan
XD
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley