Summary
Astrocytes and microglial cells in the arcuate nucleus of the rat hypothalamus contain lipofuscin-like granules which react with chrome alum gallocyanin and exhibit endogenous peroxidase activity. These granules were assessed with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and compared to neuronal dense bodies and glial cytoplasm. The granules are distinguished by a consistent content of sulphur and a frequent presence of calcium. The localization of other elements such as iron, copper, potassium and chlorine is impaired by methodical difficulties. The sulphur content as well as the endogenous peroxidase activity is interpreted as indicating a special variant of lipofuscin. The presence of calcium is discussed with respect to recent concepts of glia as a regulator of the ionic environment of the CNS.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barden, H.: The histochemical relationship of neuromelanin and lipofuscin. J. Neuropath. exp. Neurol. 28, 419–441 (1969)
Bignami, A., Beck, E., Parry, H.B.: Neurosecretion-like material in the hindbrain of ageing sheep and sheep affected with natural scrapie. Nature 225, 194–196 (1970)
Bock, R.: Über die Darstellbarkeit neurosekretorischer Substanz mit Chromalaun-Gallocyanin im supraoptico-hypophysären System beim Hund. Histochemie 6, 362–369 (1966)
Gambetti, P., Erulkar, S.E., Somlyo, A.P., Gonatas, N.K.: Calcium-containing structures in vertebrate glial cells. Ultrastructural and microprobe analysis. J. Cell Biol. 64, 322–330 (1975)
Goldfischer, S., Villaverde, H., Forschirm, R.: The demonstration of acid hydrolase, thermostable reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide tetrazolium reductase and peroxidase activities in human lipofuscin pigment granules. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 14, 641–652 (1966)
Goldgefter, L.: Studies on the structure and function of Gomori-positive glial cells in the rat hypothalamus. Acta anat. (Basel) 95, 545–557 (1976)
Graham, R.C., Karnovsky, M.J.: The early stages of absorption of injected horseradish peroxidase in the proximal tubules of mouse kidney: Ultrastructural cytochemistry by a new technique. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 14, 291–301 (1966)
Henn, F.A.: Neurotransmission and glial cells: A functional relationship? J. Neurosci. Res. 2, 271–282 (1976)
Holtzman, E.: Lysosomes: A survey. Wien, New York: Springer 1976
Keefer, D.A., Christ, J.F.: Distribution of endogenous diamino-benzidine-staining cells in the normal rat brain. Brain Res. 116, 312–316 (1976)
Koritsánszky, S.: System of the Gomori-positive glial cells. In: Zirkumventrikuläre Organe und Liquor, (ed. G. Sterba), p. 201–203. Jena: Gustav Fischer 1969
Koritsánszky, S., Vigh, B., Aros, B.: Studies on the Gomori-positive glial cells. I. The changes in the periventricular Gomori-positive glial cells in rats of various ages. Acta Biol. Hung. 18, 9–19 (1967)
Maxwell, D.S., Kruger, L.: The reactive oligodendrocyte. An electron microscopic study of cerebral cortex following alpha particle irradiation. Amer. J. Anat. 118, 437–460 (1966)
Pearse, A.G.E.: Histochemistry. 3rd edition, Vol. 2: Edinburgh and London: Churchill Livingstone 1972
Pilgrim, Ch.: Altersbedingte Anhäufung von lysosomalen Residualkörpern in neurosekretorischen Zellfortsätzen. Z. Zellforsch. 109, 573–582 (1970)
Pilgrim, Ch., Wagner, H.-J.: Tracer-Untersuchungen am Hypothalamus der Ratte. Verh. Anat. Ges. 68, 849–850 (1974)
Richardson, K.C., Jarett, L., Finke, E.H.: Embedding in epoxy resins for ultrathin sectioning in electron microscopy. Stain Technol. 35, 313–323 (1960)
Röhlich, P., Vigh, B., Teichmann, I., Aros, B.: Electron microscopy of the median eminence of the rat. Acta Biol. Hung. 15, 431–457 (1965)
Sherlock, D.A., Field, P.M., Raisman, G.: Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase in the magnocellular neurosecretory system of the rat. Brain Res. 88, 403–414 (1975)
Sloper, J.C.: The experimental and cytopathological investigation of neurosecretion in the hypothalamus and pituitary. In: The pituitary gland, Vol. III, (ed. G.W. Harris, B.T. Donovan), p. 131–239. London: Butterworths 1966
Somjen, G.G.: Electrophysiology of neuroglia. Ann. Rev. Physiol. 37, 163–190 (1975)
Srebro, Z.: A comparative and experimental study of the Gomori positive glia. Folia biol. (Kraków) 17, 177–192 (1969)
Srebro, Z.: Periventricular Gomori-positive glia in brains of X-irradiated rats. Brain Res. 35, 463–468 (1971)
Srebro, Z., Cichocki, T.: A system of periventricular glia in brain characterized by large peroxisome-like cell organelles. Acta histochem. (Jena) 41, 108–114 (1971)
Teichmann, I.: Vergleichende histochemische Studien über die Gomori-positive Substanz des Ependyms und der hypendymalen Gliazellen im Frosch. Z. mikr.-anat. Forsch. 76, 12–25 (1967)
Teichmann, I., Aros, B., Vigh, B., Koritsánszky, S.: Histochemische Untersuchung Gomori-positiver Gliazellen im Regenwurm (Lumbricus terrestris, Eisenia foetida). Zool. Jb. Physiol. 71, 552–557 (1965)
Vaughan, D.W., Peters, A.: Neuroglial cells in the cerebral cortex of rats from young adulthood to old age: an electron microscope study. J. Neurocytol. 3, 405–429 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wagner, H.J., Pilgrim, C. A microprobe analysis of Gomori-positive glial cells in the rat arcuate nucleus. Histochemistry 55, 147–157 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00493517
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00493517