Cortical type 2 astrocytes are not dye coupled nor do they express the major gap junction genes found in the central nervous system

Daniel J. Belliveau, Christian C.G. Naus

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39 Citas (Scopus)

Resumen

The O‐2A progenitor cell first described from the rat optic nerve is a bipotential precursor of oligodendrocytes and type 2 astrocytes. Each cell expresses specific markers that distinguish them as unique cell types. O‐2A progenitors cultured in high serum preferentially differntiate into type 2 astrocytes and when exposed to defined medium or low serum develop along the oligodendrocyte lineage. We analyzed the gap junction gene expression of type 2 astrocytes to determine if they are coupled to form a syncytium, like their type 1 astrocyte counterparts. Dye coupling experiments demonstrated that cortical type 2 astrocytes are not coupled, while type 1 astrocytes in the same culture dish are highly coupled. Immunocytochemistry revealed the presence of Cx43 in type 1 astrocytes but we could not detect Cx26, 32, or 43 protein in type 2 astrocytes. In situ hybridization did not detect mRNA for any of the three connexin genes in type 2 astrocytes. These data demonstrate that type 2 astrocytes do not express the major gap junction genes found in the central nervous system. The precise function of type 2 astrocytes is not known but the lack of gap junction genes expression suggests that their functions are different from the spatial buffering capacity of type 1 astrocytes.

Idioma originalEnglish
Páginas (desde-hasta)24-34
Número de páginas11
PublicaciónGLIA
Volumen12
N.º1
DOI
EstadoPublished - sep. 1994
Publicado de forma externa

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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