Astrocytic reaction in furious and paralytic forms of rabies with reference to GFAP expression in dog brain samples positive for rabies

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the astrocytic reaction in infected brains of dogs in that had been afflicted with the furious and paralytic form of rabies. Brain samples from 23 dogs that were positive for rabies were collected along with six brain samples that were negative for rabies. GFAP (Glial fibrillary acidic protein), specific astrocytic marker was used to differentially analyse the immunoreactivity of astrocytes to GFAP in specific brain regions in two the clinical forms of rabies viz, the furious and paralytic forms. The study showed the extent of astrogliosis in specific regions of brain in the two forms of rabies and also the intensity of GFAP expression. Region wise astrogliosis, was more diffuse in the brains of animals afflicted with the furious form of rabies but were more localized in the brains of animals with the paralytic form, specifically into the white matter of cerebellum.