Gamma-ray irradiation stimulates the expression of caveolin-1 and GFAP in rat spinal cord: a study of immunoblot and immunohistochemistry.
- Author:
Meejung AHN
1
;
Heechul KIM
;
Jeong Tae KIM
;
Jeeyoung LEE
;
Jin Won HYUN
;
Jae Woo PARK
;
Taekyun SHIN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords: astrocyte; caveolin-1; neurons; radiation; spinal cord
- MeSH: Animals; Astrocytes/metabolism/radiation effects; Blotting, Western; Caveolin 1/*biosynthesis; Gamma Rays; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein/*biosynthesis; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Spinal Cord/cytology/*metabolism/*radiation effects; Whole-Body Irradiation
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science 2006;7(4):309-314
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: We studied the expression of caveolin-1 in the spinal cords of rats using 60Co gamma-ray irradiation (single dose of 8 Gray (Gy)) in order to determine the possible involvement of caveolin-1 in the tissues of the central nervous system after irradiation. Spinal cords sampled at days 1, 4, and 9 post-irradiation (PI) (n = 5 per each time point) were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of caveolin-1 was significantly increased at day 1 PI (p < 0.05), and returned to the level of normal control rats on days 4 and 9 PI. Immunohistochemistry showed that caveolin-1 immunoreactivity was enhanced in some glial cells, vascular endothelial cells, and neurons in the spinal cords. The increased expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker for an astroglial reaction, was consistent with that of caveolin-1. In addition, caveolin-1 was co-localized in hypertrophied GFAP-positive astrocytes. Taking all these facts into consideration, we postulate that irradiation induces the increased expression of caveolin-1 in cells of the central nervous system, and that its increased expression in astrocytes may contribute to hypertrophy of astrocytes in the spinal cord after irradiation. The precise role of caveolin-1 in the spinal cords should be studied further.
