title: Decreased astrocytic GFAP expression in streptozotocin-induced diabetes after gliotoxic lesion in the rat brainstem.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diabetic hyperglycemia on astrocyte function, estimated by means of glial fibrillary acidic protein - GFAP - immunohistochemical expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male rats received a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) and were submitted 10 days later to a single injection of 10 microlitres 0.1% EB solution or 0.9% saline solution into the cisterna pontis. Ten microliters of 0.1% EB or 0.9% saline solution were also injected in non-diabetic rats. Animals were anesthetized and perfused through the heart 15 and 31 days after EB or saline injection, and brainstem sections were collected for ultrastructural analysis and GFAP immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GFAP brown-stained areas were evaluated by colorimetry using a computerized image analysis system and the results have shown that diabetes hindered the increase of GFAP astrocyte expression in the EB-injected group compared to non-diabetic animals. However, diabetes did not affect GFAP response in the saline-injected group or in control animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Streptozotocin-induced diabetic condition reduced astrocytic GFAP expression following gliotoxic injury.
authors.forename: Eduardo Fernandes
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Bondan
authors.forename: Maria de Fátima Monteiro
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Flávio Cesar
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Viani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004996:Ethidium / Q000633:toxicity; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D013311:Streptozocin; D004996:Ethidium