Reaction of astrocytes in nucleus of solitary tract after vagus nerve stimulation in rats / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the quantitative and morphological changes of astrocytes in nucleus of solitary tract(NTS) after vagus nerve stimulation(VNS).Methods:Light and electron microscopy immunohistochemisty were used to examine the relationship between astrocytes and neurons by observing the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),which is the specific protein for astrocytes. Results:Immunoreactivities of GFAP were significantly enhanced after VNS in NTS of rats. Meanwhile,the hypertrophy cell bodies and dark long processes could be seen under high power field. For electron microscopy,immunopositive GFAP astrocytes connected closely with the dendrites or axons of the neurons. The number of synapse increased remarkably after VNS compared with that of the control. Conclusion:Our data indicate that not only the neurons but also the astrocytes in the NTSs play a very important role in the process of the antiepileptic mechanism during VNS.