Astrocyte morphology, heterogeneity, and density in the developing African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus)

Astrocyte morphology, heterogeneity, and density in the developing African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus)

Astrocyte morphologies and heterogeneity were described in male African giant rats (AGR; Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse) across three age groups (five neonates, five juveniles, and five adults) using Silver impregnation method and immunohistochemistry against glial fibrillary acidic protein. Immun...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in neuroanatomy Vol. 9; p. 67
Main Authors: Olude, Matthew A, Mustapha, Oluwaseun A, Aderounmu, Oluwatunde A, Olopade, James O, Ihunwo, Amadi O
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation 26-05-2015
Frontiers Media S.A
Subjects:
African giant rat
Age
Aging
Animals
astrocyte domains
astrocyte subtypes
Astrocytes
Brain
Brain stem
Cell size
Cerebellum
Cerebral cortex
Corpus callosum
Cricetomys gambianus
Dentate gyrus
GFAP
Glial fibrillary acidic protein
Golgi stain
Hippocampus
Homeostasis
Immunohistochemistry
Juveniles
Morphology
Neonates
Nervous system
Neuroanatomy
Neurodegeneration
Neurogenesis
Neurons
Neurosciences
Olfactory bulb
Radial glial cells
Subventricular zone
Trends
Tuberculosis
Ventricle
Ventricles (cerebral)
Nigeria
Golgi stain
astrocyte subtypes
African giant rat
astrocyte domains
GFAP
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Summary:Astrocyte morphologies and heterogeneity were described in male African giant rats (AGR; Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse) across three age groups (five neonates, five juveniles, and five adults) using Silver impregnation method and immunohistochemistry against glial fibrillary acidic protein. Immunopositive cell signaling, cell size and population were least in neonates, followed by adults and juveniles, respectively. In neonates, astrocyte processes were mostly detected within the glia limitans of the mid and hind brain; their cell bodies measuring 32 ± 4.8 μm in diameter against 91 ± 5.4 μm and 75 ± 1.9 μm in juveniles and adults, respectively. Astrocyte heterogeneity in juvenile and adult groups revealed eight subtypes to include fibrous astrocytes chiefly in the corpus callosum and brain stem, protoplasmic astrocytes in the cortex and dentate gyrus (DG); radial glia were found along the olfactory bulb (OB) and subventricular zone (SVZ); velate astrocytes were mainly found in the cerebellum and hippocampus; marginal astrocytes close to the pia mater; Bergmann glia in the molecular layer of the cerebellum; perivascular and periventricular astrocytes in the cortex and third ventricle, respectively. Cell counts from twelve anatomical regions of the brain were significantly higher in juveniles than in adults (p ≤ 0.01) using unpaired student t-test in the cerebral cortex, pia, corpus callosum, rostral migratory stream, DG, and cerebellum. Highest astrocyte count was found in the DG, while the least count was in the brain stem and sub cortex. Astrocytes along the periventricular layer of the OB are believed to be part of the radial glia system that transport newly formed cells towards the hippocampus and play roles in neurogenesis migration and homeostasis in the AGR. Therefore, astrocyte heterogeneity was examined across age groups in the AGR to determine whether age influences astrocytes population in different regions of the AGR brain and discuss possible functional roles.
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Edited by: Yun-Qing Li, The Fourth Military Medical University, China
Reviewed by: James C. Vickers, University of Tasmania, Australia; Anne-Karine Bouzier-Sore, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – Université Victor Segalen, France
ISSN:1662-5129
1662-5129
DOI:10.3389/fnana.2015.00067