Activation and inflammatory profiling of subpial astrocytes (glia limitans superficialis) of the medial prefrontal cortex in reaction to experimental neuropathic pain based on the sciatic nerve or spinal cord injury
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| Citation | |
| Description | The glia limitans superficialis (GLS) on the rodent cortical surface consists of astrocyte bodies intermingled with their cytoplasmic processes. The GLS astrocytes are in contact with CSF penetrating through the pia. Therefore, the GLS is considered to be a superficial CSF-brain barrier. The reactivity and immunophenotyping of the rat and mouse GLS astrocytes in response to sham operation and sciatic nerve compression (SNC) or spinal cord injury (SCI) after different periods of survival were monitored in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Indirect immunofluorescence staining was performed with primary antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), aquaporin-4 (AQP4), connexin-43 (Cx43), TNFa, IL1b, and MAP3K12. Immunofluorescence (IF) intensities of glia and inflammatory markers were measured and compared between control and operated groups. Our results revealed progressive sending of cytoplasmic processes of the GLS astrocytes into layer-I of mPFC after both SNC and SNI. The GLS astrocytes displayed distinct immunostaining for AQP4, the intensities of which were reduced in both sham- and SNC or SCI operated animals. In contrast, increased Cx43-IF intensities were measured in both sham- and SNC-operated rats over all periods of survival. The reactivated GLS astrocytes also showed increased immunostaining for MAP3K12, TNFa, IL1b indicating their inflammatory profiling. In summary, we detected activation and inflammatory profiling of subpial astrocytes in compose the glia limitans superficialis after sciatic nerve or spinal cord injuries which can be related to attenuation of the superficial CSF-brain barrier. |
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