Radial glia and astrocytes in developing and adult telencephalon of the lizard Gallotia galloti as revealed by immunohistochemistry with anti‐GFAP and anti‐vimentin antibodies

Abstract

The development of radial glia and astrocytes in the telencephalon of the lizard Gallotia galloti was studied by immunohistochemistry with anti‐vimentin and anti‐GFAP antibodies. Vimentin appears at embryonic stage 32 (E32) in the proliferative zone of the lateral ventricle and subpial end‐feet in the marginal zone. At E34‐35 the staining intensity for vimentin in all radial glia is maximal. It then decreases and disappears in most structures in adult animals. GFAP appears at E35 in the end‐feet in the marginal zone and its intensity increases until adulthood, particularly in radial and sinuous fibers and in fibers that originate from the sulci and invade the ventral striatum and the septum. In contrast, the reaction is weak in the cortex, in the anterior dorso‐ventricular ridge, and in the amygdala nuclei. Radial glia is still present in the adult, and the composition of its intermediate filaments changes during development from vimentin to GFAP. No GFA‐positive cell bodies except those of ependymal glia were deceted in telencephalon. Copyright © 1990 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.