| Dissertation |
Thesis (Ph.D.) --NUI, 2000 at Department of Anatomy, UCC. |
| Summary |
In this study radial glia in the cervical region of the spinal cord were analysed. Di1 was used to determine the morphology and distribution of radial glia during spinal cord development. Using this technique, radial glia were shown to be present at embryonic day (E) 14, E16 and E18 in the developing spinal cord but by E20 no radial glia extended from the luminal to the pial surface of the cord. The only remaining evidence of radial glia was short radial processes in the white matter. Immunocytochemical markers were used to label the radial cells in an attempt to follow any transition in expression of intermediate filament protein, which is known to occur during transformation of radial glia into astrocytes. The presence of vimentin in radially orientated processes in the white matter of the cord at E14 indicated their radial glial nature. By E18, the white matter processes became glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive and were therefore astrocytic in nature. These astrocytes may have differentiated from radial glia that detached from the luminal surface and translocated to the white matter or alternatively some may belong to a population of VZ cells that migrated to the white matter and started to express GFAP. The VZ cells in the developing rat spinal cord were also analysed with immunocytochemical markers both using flow cytometry and in culture to identify their phenotype. |
| Subject |
Rats -- Anatomy.
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| Collection |
Theses Ph.D.
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|
Theses Anatomy Department
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| Description |
2 v. ; 30 cm. |
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