Immunocytochemical characterization of a new marker of fibrous and reactive astrocytes

A specific monoclonal antiserum (Mab 6.17) inducing a strong immunostaining of the neuromuscular junction has been used to detect the possible occurrence of the corresponding antigen throughout the intact or lesioned central nervous system of adult rats. In intact animals, 6.17-immunolabeling was essentially detected in astrocyte-like structures located in white matter fasciculi of the brain, such as the optic tract, corpus callosum, fornix, and in the white matter of the spinal cord. The astroglial nature of such 6.17-immunolabeled profiles was verified by performing double or triple immunofluorescent labeling with Mab 6.17 and with specific antisera against astrocytic markers, such as S100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin. In the white matter, all the structures reactive to Mab 6.17 were also reactive to antibodies against S100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin. On the other hand, astrocytes of the grey matter that were immunoreactive to S100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein but negative to vimentin, were devoid of 6.17-immunoreactivity. After lesions including stab wound through the diencephalon or transection of the spinal cord, a marked increase of 6.17-immunostaining was noted in the regions surrounding the lesions. In these regions, 6.17-immunolabeling was associated with S100-, GFAP- and vimentin-positive astrocytes constituting the glial scar. The ultrastructural localization of 6.17-immunoreactivity indicated that, similar to glial fibrillary acidic protein and vimentin, the recognized antigen was mainly associated with gliofilaments. These observations indicate that, in the central nervous system of adult rats, Mab 6.17 recognizes a molecule associated with gliofilaments, which is essentially associated to reactive astrocytes expressing high levels of vimentin.