Long-term astroglial reaction and neuronal plasticity in the subcortical visual pathways after a complete ablation of telencephalon in pigeons (Columba livia).

This paper analyzes the astroglial and neuronal responses in subtelencephalic structures, following a bilateral ablation of the telencephalon in the Columba livia pigeons. Control birds received a sham operation. Four months later the birds were sacrificed and their brains processed for glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and neurofilament immunohistochemistry, markers for astrocytes and neurons, respectively.

Responses of reactive astrocytes containing S100beta protein and fibroblast growth factor-2 in the border and in the adjacent preserved tissue after a contusion injury of the spinal cord in rats: implications for wound repair and neuroregeneration.

This paper demonstrates glial reaction and changes in the S100beta protein and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, FGF-2) in the border and in the adjacent preserved tissue of the rat spinal cord after a contusion. In view of the expression of FGF-2 and S100beta in reactive glial cells and their ability to promote gliogenesis and neuronal trophism, the molecules have been considered to participate in the wound repair and regenerative events after nervous tissue injury. Adult rats were submitted to a moderate spinal cord (10th thoracic level) contusion induced by a New York University Impactor by dropping a 10 g rod from a distance of 25 mm onto the dorsal surface of the exposed dura spinal cord.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 immunoreactivity is present in the central and peripheral auditory pathways of adult rats.

Recent findings have pointed out the role of neurotrophic factors in the survival and maintenance of neurons of the auditory system. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF, FGF-2) is a potent neurotrophic molecule whose actions can be seen in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In the present study, FGF-2 immunoreactivity was analyzed in the auditory pathways of the adult rat, employing a well-characterized polyclonal antibody against FGF-2.

Basic fibroblast growth factor, neurofilament, and glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivities in the myenteric plexus of the rat esophagus and colon.

The enteric nervous system consists of a number of interconnected networks of neuronal cell bodies and fibers as well as satellite cells, the enteric glia. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a mitogen for a variety of mesodermal and neuroectodermal-derived cells and its presence has been described in many tissues. The present work employs immunohistochemistry to analyze neurons and glial cells in the esophageal and colic enteric plexus of the Wistar rat for neurofilament (NF) and glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAP) immunoreactivity as well as bFGF immunoreactivity in these cells.