Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFA) in Normal Neural Cells and in Pathological Conditions

摘要: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein in normal neural cells and pathological conditions. A review of the literature on GFA indicates that it has found its major application as an immunohistochemical marker for astroglia, especially under conditions where identification cell type is difficult, is, during development, culture, cellular fractions and, more recently, human brain tumors. Laboratory procedures have been developed to facilitate production antisera. The solubility aqueous solutions vitro formation filaments from purified preparations suggest filaments, like other constituents cytoskeleton nonmuscle cells, namely, microtubules actin microfilaments, may assemble disassemble cytoplasm. extensive remodeling framework development rapid change shape occurring cultured astrocytes following serum withdrawal administration cyclic AMP make this hypothesis particularly attractive. original isolation gliosed required relatively simple such buffer extraction ammonium sulfate precipitation obtain preparations. immunogenicity varies considerably depending degree degradation. Nondegraded or partially degraded are nonimmunogenic weakly immunogenic whereas strong antisera obtained with antigen. Immunohistological studies provide new data three critical areas research neuroglia: (1) myelination gliosis, (2) time appearance Bergmann fibers cerebellum, (3) nature radial glia.