Glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein in rat spinal cord. An immunoperoxidase study in semithin sections.

The distribution of glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein was examined in cervical spinal cord of adult rat, according to the immunocytochemical peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method in semithin sections (1-2 microns). We have found astroglial cells in proximal regions of both ventral and dorsal roots. The presence of astrocytic processes reaching the central canal, only in the dorsal region suggest that they are the only radial glia cells which remain attached to the central canal.