Authors: Szabo, Adrienn; Kalman, Mihaly

Source: Current Neurovascular Research, Volume 5, Number 3, August 2008 , pp. 206-213(8)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Following brain lesions, the gliovascular basal lamina undergoes destruction and the gliovascular connections `decouple'. Laminin receptors, as dystroglycan, are essential in these processes. The present study compares the immunoreactivities of β-dystroglycan, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and laminin following stab wounds in adult rats. In intact brain the vessels were immunopositive to β-dystroglycan, whereas the laminin of their basal lamina proved to be unavailable to immunoreactions. Following stab wound, however, the adjacent vessels lost their immunopositvity to β-dystroglycan, whereas immunopositivity to laminin became detectable in them. In an advanced stage of glial reaction the territory of GFAP immunopositive reactive astrocytes coincided with the area where vessels lost their immunopositivity to β-dystroglycan. When glial reaction regressed, the β-dystroglycan immunopositivity re-appeared, and laminin immunopositivity became undetectable again. Post-lesional disappearance of vascular β-dystroglycan immunostaining was described earlier, and was attributed to the cleavage of β-dystroglycan by matrix metalloproteinases as a mechanism of the decoupling of the gliovascular connections. Our results, which were obtained in a different type of lesion support that the loss of vascular β-dystroglycan immunopositivity is a general phenomenon following cerebral lesions, and an indirect marker of gliovascular decoupling. For the first time coincidences were presented between vascular immunonegativity to β-dystroglycan, glial reaction and detectability of laminin. Manifestation of laminin immunoreactivity also indicates gliovascular decoupling. Coincidence between glial reaction and lack of vascular β-dystroglycan suggests mutual enhancement between them. The observations may have clinico-pathologic importance since similar investigations may help to follow the progression and regression of post-lesion processes.

Keywords: Astrocytes; basal lamina; brain lesion; dystroglycan; GFAP; laminin; reactive glia; gliovascular coupling

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720208785425657

Publication date: 2008-08-01

More about this publication?

• Current Neurovascular Research (CNR) provides a cross platform for the publication of scientifically rigorous research that addresses disease mechanisms of both neuronal and vascular origins in neuroscience. The journal serves as an international forum for the publication of novel and pioneering original work as well as timely neuroscience research reviews in the disciplines of cell developmental disorders, plasticity, and degeneration that bridge the gap between basic science research and clinical discovery. CNR emphasizes the elucidation of disease mechanisms, both cellular and molecular, which can impact the development of unique therapeutic strategies for neuronal and vascular disorders.

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