Gamma-ray irradiation stimulates the expression of caveolin-1 and GFAP in rat spinal cord: a study of immunoblot and immunohistochemistry.
We studied the expression of caveolin-1 in the spinal cords of rats using 60Co gamma-ray irradiation (single dose of 8 Gray (Gy)) in order to determine the possible involvement of caveolin-1 in the tissues of the central nervous system after irradiation. Spinal cords sampled at days 1, 4, and 9 post-irradiation (PI) (n = 5 per each time point) were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of caveolin-1 was significantly increased at day 1 PI (p < 0.05), and returned to the level of normal control rats on days 4 and 9 PI. Immunohistochemistry showed that caveolin-1 immunoreactivity was enhanced in some glial cells, vascular endothelial cells, and neurons in the spinal cords. The increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker for an astroglial reaction, was consistent with that of caveolin-1. In addition, caveolin-1 was co-localized in hypertrophied GFAP-positive astrocytes. Taking all these facts into consideration, we postulate that irradiation induces the increased expression of caveolin-1 in cells of the central nervous system, and that its increased expression in astrocytes may contribute to hypertrophy of astrocytes in the spinal cord after irradiation. The precise role of caveolin-1 in the spinal cords should be studied further.
Ahn
Meejung
M
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Applied Life Sciences, Cheju National University, Jeju 690-756, Korea.
Kim
Heechul
H
Kim
Jeong Tae
JT
Lee
Jeeyoung
J
Hyun
Jin Won
JW
Park
Jae Woo
JW
Shin
Taekyun
T
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
D051242:Caveolin 1; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein