title: Distribution of GFAP+ astrocytes in adult and neonatal rat brain.
abstract: Astrocytes can proliferate as a result of trauma to the brain, such as occurs in a variety of diseases. Understanding the normal distribution of astrocytes is necessary before the extent of astrogliosis can be clearly determined. However, little is known about the normal distribution of GFAP+ astrocytes especially during development. This study examined distribution of GFAP+ astrocytes in regions of the cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem of adult and rat pup brains by immunocytochemistry using antibodies against GFAP. The findings showed a differential distribution of GFAP+ astrocytes in the rat brain. A paucity of GFAP expression was found in most regions of the normal adult rat brainstem, whereas GFAP+ astrocytes were abundantly distributed in all areas of the cortex and cerebellum. A similar regional heterogeneity in the distribution of GFAP+ astrocytes was seen in the neonatal rat brain. These findings suggest that the development of the differential pattern of GFAP+ astrocytes seen in the rat brain does not occur postnatally, but instead is present at birth and appears to be determined during fetal development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 24450, USA. taftj@wlu.edu
authors.forename: Janna R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Taft
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Vertes
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein