Astrocytes micrograph

In a recent review numerous examples were given of membrane ultrastructural textures consistent with the conformation discussed here [64]. Another obvious case of a conformation will be mentioned. The brain astrocytes are rich in potassium channels, which appear to play an important role in the regulation of the ion concentrations in the brain. Freeze-fracture electron micrographs of the outer astrocyte membrane contain patches of a periodic structure [65]. These ordered assemblies are thought to be potassium channels. In our membrane description these channels serve to plug the "holes" of a C D bilayer, whereas the rest of the membrane is in the conformation. 

Fig. 92. Micrograph of adult cerebellar cortex, incubation with vimentin antibody V9 counterstaining with cresylviolet. Sagittal unfixed cryostat section. Bergmann glial fibers (arrowheads) and large astrocytes (arrows) are seen in the molecular and granular layer, respectively, pc, Purkinje cell ml, molecular layer gl, granular layer. Bar = 100 /im. Reeling and Feirabend (1988)...

Fig. 9.1 Alzheimer Type II astrocytosis in HE (chronic liver failure) (a) light micrograph of cerebral cortex from a cirrhotic patient who died in hepatic coma. Note prominence of pale, enlarged astroglial nuclei frequently occurring in pairs (anvw) suggestive of hyperplasia. A normal astrocyte nucleus is shown for comparison purposes (arrowhead). Bar = 20 pM. (b) Similar section showing intranuclear glycogen inclusions (arrow). Inset irregular lobular astrocyte in pallidum. Reproduced from Norenbeig (1987), with permission from Humana Press...

Fig. 9.2 Early changes in astrocytic morphology in experimental HE (chronic liver failure) Electron micrograph of an astrocyte process showing mitochondrial proliferation from a portacaval-shunted rat with mild HE resulting from feeding of ammonia resins. N nucleus. Bar = 1 pM Reproduced from Norenberg (1987), with permission from Humana Press...

---