Association of iron-containing astrocytes with dopaminergic neurons of the arcuate nucleus
- PMID: 2319629
- DOI: 10.1002/jnr.490250208
Association of iron-containing astrocytes with dopaminergic neurons of the arcuate nucleus
Abstract
Specialized astrocytes, identified by cytoplasmic granules that are electron-dense and vividly stained by toluidine blue due to the presence in the granules of SH molecules and molecules of iron, have long been known to be present within the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Their function, however, is obscure. To determine whether or not these specialized astrocytes are in contact with dopaminergic neurons, rat brain sections were stained to detect tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive neurons by immunocytochemistry and were examined by both light and electron microscopy. Iron-rich astrocytes were located in the same general portion of the arcuate nucleus as were TH+ neurons, and most appeared closely associated with TH+ structures (somas, dendrites, and fibers) at the light-microscopic level. At the ultrastructural level, close contact between TH + neurons and processes of iron-rich glia was confirmed. This unique anatomical association suggests a functional relationship between the two cell types that may be related to unusual histochemical features of both cell types and/or to the location of these cells in an area with a highly permeable blood-brain barrier.
Similar articles
-
Fine structure of tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive neurons and terminals of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and median eminence in young and aged rats.J Electron Microsc (Tokyo). 1990;39(5):396-403. J Electron Microsc (Tokyo). 1990. PMID: 1982118
-
Morphological interaction between galanin-like peptide- and dopamine-containing neurons in the rat arcuate nucleus.Regul Pept. 2008 Jan 10;145(1-3):165-8. doi: 10.1016/j.regpep.2007.08.019. Epub 2007 Aug 30. Regul Pept. 2008. PMID: 17916390
-
Reciprocal synaptic connections between neurotensin- and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the guinea pig.Brain Res. 1996 Apr 9;715(1-2):63-70. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(95)01546-9. Brain Res. 1996. PMID: 8739623
-
Ibotenic acid-induced lesions of striatal target and projection neurons: ultrastructural manifestations in dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons and in glia.Histol Histopathol. 1987 Jul;2(3):251-63. Histol Histopathol. 1987. PMID: 2908792
-
Astrocytes within the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus contain estrogen-sensitive peroxidase, bind fluorescein-conjugated estradiol, and may mediate synaptic plasticity in the rat.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991 Apr;164(4):959-66. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991. PMID: 1849705 Review.
Cited by
-
Physiology of Astroglia.Physiol Rev. 2018 Jan 1;98(1):239-389. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00042.2016. Physiol Rev. 2018. PMID: 29351512 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Neurogenesis Makes a Crucial Contribution to the Neuropathology of Alzheimer's Disease.J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2020 Sep 3;4(1):365-371. doi: 10.3233/ADR-200218. J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2020. PMID: 33163897 Free PMC article.
-
GLUT2 immunoreactivity in Gomori-positive astrocytes of the hypothalamus.J Histochem Cytochem. 2004 Nov;52(11):1519-24. doi: 10.1369/jhc.4A6375.2004. J Histochem Cytochem. 2004. PMID: 15505347 Free PMC article.
-
Copper accumulation in rodent brain astrocytes: A species difference.J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2017 Jan;39:6-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.06.011. Epub 2016 Jul 6. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2017. PMID: 27908425 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical