Decreased astrocytic GFAP expression in streptozotocin-induced diabetes after gliotoxic lesion in the rat brainstem

Author(s)

Bondan, Eduardo Fernandes ^[1] ; Monteiro Martins, Maria de Fatima ^[2] ; Viani, Flavio Cesar ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Paulista. Postgrad Program Environm & Expt Pathol

^[2] Univ Paulista. Postgrad Program Environm & Expt Pathol

^[3] Univ Cruzeiro Sul. Dept Vet Med

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia e Metabologia; v. 57, n. 6, p. 431-436, AUG 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diabetic hyperglycemia on astrocyte function, estimated by means of glial fibrillary acidic protein - GFAP - immunohistochemical expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male rats received a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) and were submitted 10 days later to a single injection of 10 microlitres 0.1% EB solution or 0.9% saline solution into the cisterna pontis. Ten microliters of 0.1% EB or 0.9% saline solution were also injected in non-diabetic rats. Animals were anesthetized and perfused through the heart 15 and 31 days after EB or saline injection, and brainstem sections were collected for ultrastructural analysis and GFAP immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The GFAP brown-stained areas were evaluated by colorimetry using a computerized image analysis system and the results have shown that diabetes hindered the increase of GFAP astrocyte expression in the EB-injected group compared to non-diabetic animals. However, diabetes did not affect GFAP response in the saline-injected group or in control animals. CONCLUSION: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic condition reduced astrocytic GFAP expression following gliotoxic injury. (AU)