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Glial scar and axonal regeneration in the CNS: lessons from GFAP and vimentin transgenic mice

  • Conference paper
Mechanisms of Secondary Brain Damage from Trauma and Ischemia

Part of the book series: Acta Neurochirurgica Supplements ((NEUROCHIRURGICA,volume 89))

Abstract

Astrocytes play an active role in the brain and spinal cord. For example, they have a function in formation and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier, ion homeostasis, neurotransmitter transport, production of extracellular matrix, and neuromodulation. Moreover, they play a role in preserving or even restoring the structural and physiological integrity after tissue injury. Currently, the function of astrocytes was studied with regard to the controversially discussed aspects of permissivity on the one-hand-side and inhibition of the other side exerted by reactive astrocytes for axonal regrowth in the adult CNS. Accordingly, knock-out mice deficient in vimentin (VIM) and/or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the two major IF-proteins of astrocytes, were investigated. In addition, in vitro studies were carried out, on whether the absence of one or both proteins (VIM, GFAP) influences axonal regeneration. In experimental animals, a hemisection of the spinal cord was performed utilizing the above mentioned double-mutant mice. The knock-out mice were generated by gene targeting. Double-mutants were obtained by crossing single null mice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM U, Université Montpellier, Cedex, France

    M. G. Ribotta, V. Menet & A. Privat

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  1. M. G. Ribotta
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  2. V. Menet
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  3. A. Privat
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Chirurgische Forschung, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany

    A. Baethmann  & N. Plesnila  & 

  2. Neurochirurgische Klinik, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    J. Eriskat

  3. Neurochirurgische Klinik, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    J. Lehmberg

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Ribotta, M.G., Menet, V., Privat, A. (2004). Glial scar and axonal regeneration in the CNS: lessons from GFAP and vimentin transgenic mice. In: Baethmann, A., Eriskat, J., Lehmberg, J., Plesnila, N. (eds) Mechanisms of Secondary Brain Damage from Trauma and Ischemia. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplements, vol 89. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0603-7_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0603-7_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-7091-7206-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-0603-7

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