Seven days after CSCI, areas of reactive
astrocytosis and numerous astrocytes with thick cytoskeletal processes were noticed, indicating an upregulation of GFAP expression (Fig.
One case of low-grade astrocytoma was diagnosed as reactive
astrocytosis of the brain, possibly due to erroneous sampling from the periphery of the main lesion.
Astrocytosis confirmed by GFAP immunostaining (GRAESSER et al., 2006) and microgliosis confirmed by Iba-1 immunostaining (SOFRONIEW & VINTERS, 2010) were also present in our case.
Cellular Mechanisms of Reactive
Astrocytosis and Opportunities for Glioprotection
Morphologic diagnoses of the cerebellum included multifocal, subacute Purkinje cell degeneration, necrosis, with Bergmann's
astrocytosis, granular cell atrophy, and chronic, locally extensive encephalomalacia with mineralization, gliosis, spongiosis, neovascularization, and gitter cell infiltration.
The impairment of this liver-specific metabolic pathway induced either by primary genetic defects or by secondary causes, namely associated with drugs administration, may result in accumulation of ammonia.3 Exposure of astrocytes in the brain to high levels of ammonia results in both cell swelling (acute exposure) and Alzheimer Type II
astrocytosis (chronic exposure), (4) which causes consciousness disorder.
It has been demonstrated that "systemic administration of DHA after middle cerebral artery occlusion induces neurological recovery, reduces microglial infiltration, increases
astrocytosis as early as 24h, and corresponds with the activation of AKT cascades as early as 4h after the onset of ischemia." (7)
The pathology showed neuronal necrosis, prominent reactive
astrocytosis, microglial activation, and sparse mononuclear inflammation.
Saleem, "Abnormal neuronal migration, deranged cerebral cortical organization, and diffuse white matter
astrocytosis of human fetal brain: a major effect of methylmercury poisoning in utero," Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, vol.