Morphofunctional changes of the astrocyte in rat hippocampus under different corticosteroid conditions

Chun-Ying Yang
Toshiyuki Matsuzaki
Norio Iijima
Naoko Kajimura
Hitoshi Ozawa

In the present study
 we examined the changes in the morphofunction of astrocytes in rat hippocampus under different circulating corticosteroid conditions by immunohistochemistry analysis of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ultra-high-voltage electron microscopy. Each GFAP-immunoreactive cell showed a hypertrophic appearance with well-developed thicker fibrous processes
 and the number and the density of GFAP-immunoreactive cells were increased 4 weeks after adrenalectomy
 whereas the changes were restored to the sham-control level with corticosterone replacement. The morphometric changes were observed in particular around the pyramidal neurons of CA1 and in the subgranular layer of dentate gyrus. The quantitative analysis clearly showed a significant increase in the number and the density of GFAP-immunoreactive cells in the adrenalectomy group; following corticosterone replacement
 these increases were returned to the shamcontrol level. These changes were also specifically revealed by stereo-observation with ultra-high-voltage electron microscopy. The astrocyte showed more complicated fine three-dimensional branching after adrenalectomy. These results suggested that both the structure and function of astrocytes were modulated by corticosteroids via glucocorticoid receptor.

MEDICAL MOLECULAR MORPHOLOGY

SPRINGER JAPAN KK

45

4

10.1007/s00795-011-0561-4

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00795-011-0561-4
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