Abstract
Structural transformations of the frog cerebellar glial cells (astrocytes) in the presence of high concentrations of glutamate and nitric oxide (NO) were studied by electron microscopy method. It was found that under these conditions mimicking a natural stroke, glial processes storing sufficient amounts of glycogen grains could protect the neurons of the molecular layer. Under these conditions glial processes transformed (stretched out) into strands, virtually deprived of cytoplasm. The distance between two membranes of such strands dropped to 25–30 nm, and cross-bridges appeared inside. These structures are called “autotypic septal contact” (ASC). A modified glial process with ASC could wrap injured synapse or synaptic elements (buttons, dendritic spines) and form a tight capsule. Glial processes with ASC can also intrude between two neurons of the cerebellum granular layer, preventing their pathological fusion. The results suggest that ASC can have a protecting role in the toxic action of glutamate and NO-generating agents.
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