The surface density of glial fibrillary acidic protein immunopositive astrocytic processes in the rat supraoptic nucleus is reversibly altered by dehydration and rehydration

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) have provided evidence that retraction and extension of astrocytic processes from between magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) likely plays a role in the release of oxytocin, and/or vasopressin, that accompanies par...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience letters 1999-12, Vol.277 (1), p.57-60
Main Authors: Hawrylak, Nicholas, Boone, David, Salm, A.K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anatomy
Animals
Astrocyte
Astrocytes - metabolism
Biological and medical sciences
Central nervous system
Cytoskeleton
Dehydration - metabolism
Dehydration - physiopathology
Fluid Therapy
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Glia
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - metabolism
Immunohistochemistry
magnocellular neurons
Male
Neuroendocrine
Oxytocin
Plasticity
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Structural reorganization
supraoptic nucleus
Supraoptic Nucleus - metabolism
Vasopressin
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) have provided evidence that retraction and extension of astrocytic processes from between magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) likely plays a role in the release of oxytocin, and/or vasopressin, that accompanies parturition, lactation and dehydration. The present study estimates the surface density ( Sv) of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity, predominantly in astrocytic processes, in the SON of normally hydrated, dehydrated and rehydrated rats. The Sv of GFAP processes in dehydrated rats was significantly reduced compared with control levels. Rehydration returned Sv to control levels. The reversible reduction in Sv indicates that the previously observed reduction in optical density is due to a rearrangement of astrocyte processes in the SON which occurs at the same time as the selective functional activation of MNCs.
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/S0304-3940(99)00864-2