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Heterogeneity in spinal radial glia demonstrated by intermediate filament expression and HRP labelling

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Journal of Neurocytology

Summary

Considerable evidence indicates that radial glial cells play an active role in guiding growing neurites during development of the vertebrate CNS. In this paper we describe subpopulations of radial glia in the spinal cord of the axolotl. Amphibians maintain radial glia throughout life, and subpopulations are described using anatomical criteria following filling of individual cells with horseradish peroxidase and immunocytochemical staining with a range of intermediate filament antibodies.

Radial glial cells in specific regions of the spinal cord stain with a range of antibodies specific to human keratins 8 and 18, and to glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP). Some of these antibodies show selective staining localized to specific regions of individual glial cell processes. Immunoblotting analysis indicates that two keratins are present in the axolotl CNS corresponding to the two earliest embryonic keratins of vertebrates, keratins 8 and 18. Comparisons of molecular weight indicate that these may correspond to keratins identified inXenopus laevis, the genes of which have been cloned. Axolotl GFAP is also identified in Western blots and may be present in two forms of differing molecular weight.

These results are discussed in terms of the likely role of radial glial cells, and comparisons are drawn between the keratin and GFAP types seen, in the axolotl spinal cord and of those in other vertebrate groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomy & Human Biology Group, Division of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Strand, WC2R 2LS, London, UK

    N. Holder, J. D. W. Clarke & T. Kamalati

  2. Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Clare Hall Laboratories, South Mimms, Herts, UK

    E. B. Lane

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  1. N. Holder
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  2. J. D. W. Clarke
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  3. T. Kamalati
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  4. E. B. Lane
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Holder, N., Clarke, J.D.W., Kamalati, T. et al. Heterogeneity in spinal radial glia demonstrated by intermediate filament expression and HRP labelling. J Neurocytol 19, 915–928 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01186819

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01186819

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