[Microglial activation and GFAP astroglial immunopositivity in drug abusers].
BACKGROUND
The neurotoxicity brought about by application of toxic and psychotropic substances is accompanied by an activation of astroglial and microglial cells in the brain.


METHODS
We investigated clinically 42 patients addicted to psychotropic substances (hospitalised in the Motol Teaching Hospital). The NSE, S1OOB, and manganese concentrations in the blood were measured in the patients. In 14 deceased patients with drug evidence in the hair indicating a chronic abuse of addictive substances, the brain tissue glial cells were immunohistochemically labelled with antibody against CD68 and GFAP.


RESULTS
In 8 hospitalised patients, there were increased NSE, S100B values in the blood (p < 0.05). Manganese in the blood was increased (3,03±1,9 μg/l, p < 0,05) in all patients. In deceased persons, the CD68 positivity of microglial cells and neurophagy have been proved. GFAP positive astroglial cells have been evidenced in the gray and white matter.


CONCLUSIONS
The CD68 and GFAP positive glial cells in brain tissue can be a pathomorphological correlate of neurotoxicity in chronic abusers. The neurotoxicity can be monitored with NSE and S100B markers of damaged neuronal cells.
Ustav Soudniho lekarstvi a toxikologie VFN, Praha.
D
D
Vajtr
J
J
Kukačka
P
P
Strejc
A
A
Vitouš
M
M
Bradková
E
E
Bradková
A
A
Pilin
R
R
Průša
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000378:metabolism; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000097:blood; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D009418:S100 Proteins; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule