In unfixed cryostat sections of the brains of early postnatal and adult rats, we screened for cells containing vimentin-positive intermediate filaments (VI+-IFs) by applying a panel of four monoclonal antibodies (Mabs VI-01, VI-02, VI-05 and VI-5B3) using indirect immunofluorescence. All of the Mabs stained VI+-IFs in the stromal part of the choroid plexus, in endothelial cells of blood vessels and in meninges in both adult and immature brains, although with varying strength (VI-5B3 and VI-01 stained more strongly than VI-05 and VI-02). In the brain parenchyma of adults, intense staining was mainly localized in ventricular ependymal cells (VI-5B3/VI-01 greater than VI-02/VI-05) and fibrous astrocyte-like cells (FAs). In the immature brain, the ependymal cells were activated in appearance, with evidence of cell enlargement, greater spreading of VI+-IFs within the cytoplasm and more pronounced VI+ cytoplasmic protrusions into the brain parenchyma. VI+-FAs were found near the ependymal and meningeal borders as well as in the white matter tracts of adult brain (VI-5B3/VI-01 greater than VI-05 greater than VI-02). In immature animals, VI+-FAs were less frequently encountered in the forebrain regions, except in and near the subepenydmal layer (in the adjacent parenchyma) as well as in submeningeal layers. Weaker staining was usually elicited by Mabs VI-02 and VI-05. In the cerebellum, Bergmann cell fibers were stained in both age groups. In adults, the most intense fluorescence usually occurred in segments close to the pia (VI-5B3/VI-01 greater than VI-05 greater than VI-02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Institute of Physiology Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Prague

Zobrazit více v PubMed

Folia Biol (Praha). 1986;32(5):295-303 PubMed

Nature. 1970 Aug 15;227(5259):680-5 PubMed

Eur J Cell Biol. 1981 Dec;26(1):68-82 PubMed

J Neurochem. 1984 Jan;42(1):25-32 PubMed

Cell. 1983 Nov;35(1):215-23 PubMed

Exp Cell Res. 1986 Jan;162(1):220-30 PubMed

J Cell Biol. 1981 Jan;88(1):115-26 PubMed

J Histochem Cytochem. 1982 Mar;30(3):207-13 PubMed

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1979 Sep;76(9):4350-4 PubMed

J Biol Chem. 1984 May 10;259(9):5372-5 PubMed

J Cell Biol. 1981 Sep;90(3):803-8 PubMed

Brain Res. 1986 Jun 4;375(1):73-82 PubMed

Cell Biol Int Rep. 1982 Aug;6(8):725-31 PubMed

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1983 Oct;80(19):6126-30 PubMed

J Neurocytol. 1986 Jun;15(3):375-87 PubMed

Eur J Biochem. 1984 Feb 1;138(3):465-71 PubMed

Cell. 1981 Dec;27(3 Pt 2):419-28 PubMed

Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1982;46 Pt 1:379-85 PubMed

J Cell Biol. 1981 Aug;90(2):435-47 PubMed

Expression of vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein in human developing spinal cord