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Distribution of β‐dystroglycan immunopositive globules in the subventricular zone of rat brain
Author(s) -
Adorjan Istvan,
Kalman Mihaly
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/glia.20794
Subject(s) - ependymal cell , dystroglycan , biology , basal lamina , subventricular zone , ependyma , anatomy , glial fibrillary acidic protein , pathology , cytoarchitecture , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , laminin , ultrastructure , spinal cord , central nervous system , medicine , neural stem cell , extracellular matrix , stem cell , immunology
Abstract Present study demonstrates a novel localization of β‐dystroglycan in rat brain. Beside the meningeal surface and the cerebral vessels where β‐dystroglycan immunopositivity has been described, now immunopositive solid bodies were found at the basis of ependymocytes. Since they proved to be round in either coronal, sagittal, and horizontal section, revealing their globular shape, they received the term ‘globules.’ Double immunofluorescent labeling of GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and β‐dystroglycan revealed that ‘globules’ are within the ‘cordon’ of subventricular astrocytes. The ‘globules’ were found throughout the ventricular system, except the ventral part and floor of the third ventricle. The latter one comprised the median eminence and extended caudally to the inframamillary recess. The area where the ‘globules’ were missing, corresponded to that where ependymocytes were replaced by GFAP‐immunopositive tanycytes. Utrophin and α‐dystrobrevin were co‐localized with dystroglycan, whereas α1‐syntrophin was detected along the borders of the ependymal cells. Comparing our results to former data, the ‘globules’ seem to be the anchoring places of the ‘fractons’ formed by laminin [Mercier et al. (2003) J Comp Neurol 455:324–340], which interconnect the vascular basal lamina and the ependymal layer. The ependymal localization of the ‘globules’ was proved by pre‐embedding electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. The ‘globules’ proved to be a labyrinthine structure, which seemed to be identical with the ‘basal membrane labyrinth’ described by Leonhardt [Leonhardt (1970) Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat 105:395–404]. The description of the β‐dystroglycan‐immunopositive ‘globules’ contributes to the better understanding of the structure of the subventricular zone where neurogenesis can occur during adulthood and provides an important link to the meningeo‐glial network. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.