Increases in GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes in the cerebellar molecular layer of young adult CBA/J mice

Abstract

Background CBA/J mice are standard experimental animals in auditory studies, and age-related changes in auditory pathways are well documented. However, changes in locomotion-related brain regions have not been systematically explored. Results We showed an increase in immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cerebellar molecular layer associated with Purkinje cells in mice at 24 weeks of age but not in the younger mice. Increased GFAP immunoreactivity appeared in the form of clusters and distributed multifocally consistent with hyperplasia of astrocytes that were occasionally associated with Purkinje cell degeneration. Three out of 12 animals at 16 and 24 weeks of age exhibited pre-convulsive clinical signs. Two of these 3 animals also showed increased GFAP immunoreactivity in the cerebellum. Rotarod behavioral assessments indicated decreased performance at 24 weeks of age. Conclusions These results suggest minimal to mild reactive astrocytosis likely associated with Purkinje cell degeneration in the cerebellum at 24 weeks of age in CBA/J mice. These findings should be taken into consideration prior to using this mouse strain for studying neuroinflammation or aging.

Reduced GFAP Expression in Bergmann Glial Cells in the Cerebellum of Sigma-1 Receptor Knockout Mice Determines the Neurobehavioral Outcomes after Traumatic Brain Injury

“…We found no significant difference in total number of PCs in S1R-/- mice. This is in line with previous findings in which PC degeneration and motor dysfunction was associated with both increased GFAP expression and ablation of Bergmann glia [ 43 , 44 , 45 ]. Our data show that the improved motor coordination exhibited by S1R-/- mice could be due to decreased GFAP expression in Bergmann glial cells in the molecular layer of cerebellum.…”

Microanatomy of the cerebellum in Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus), a transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemical study

“…GFAP is an intermediate filament protein integral to cytoskeletal dynamics regulating the morphology and function of astrocytes including astrocyte reactive responses during aging. GFAP is consistently upregulated with age across rodents and humans and is a surrogate marker of aging in the brain, as indicated by unbiased microarray analysis of various brain regions across rat, mouse, and human species (Tyszkiewicz et al, 2021). Usually this protein is used as marker for diagnosis traumatic brain injury and gliosis.…”