Figure 3

Astrocyte properties in microtubers. (a) Type I microtuber contains many SPARC+/CD44+ astrocytes with long processes. (b) Astrocytes in type II microtuber are SPARC-negative. Note SPARC+ giant cell (arrow) in b). (c) SPARC+/CD44+ long process astrocyte does not have miniature lamellipodial-like processes. (d,d1) Type I microtuber in upper cortical layers with vimentin+/SPARC+ (double headed arrow) and SPARC+ (arrows) giant cells. Note that astrocytes (arrowheads) near giant cells are SPARC+ and vimentin+. (d1) enlarged central part of microtuber in d). (e-g) Glutamate transporters (both, EAAT1 and EAAT2) and GS are decreased in microtuber astrocytes. Note that the central parts of microtubers with many neurons (arrows) are depleted of EAAT2 (e, e1), EAAT1 (f), and GS (g). Giant SPARC+ cell located in the central part of the microtuber near blood vessel is marked with double-headed arrow (g). Isolated SPARC+/GS+ giant cell in the neighboring parenchyma is marked with arrowhead (g). Confocal microscopy, double immunostaining (a-f), counterstaining with Nissl, triple immunostaining (g). a1–enlarged boxed area outlined in a. a’, b’, e’, e1’, f’, g’, andg”represent split images from a, b, e, e1, f, and g, respectively. scale bars: 100 μm in a,b; 45 μm in c,d; 115 μm in e,f; 170 μm in g.