Semiquantitative postembedding characterization of intermediate filaments in central nervous system lesions using immunoelectron microscopy

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dc.contributor.authorGeiger D.H.
dc.contributor.authorRossouw D.J.
dc.contributor.authorHewlett R.H.
dc.contributor.authorRutherfoord G.S.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T16:15:41Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T16:15:41Z
dc.date.issued1995
dc.description.abstractStandardized postembedding immunoelectron microscopy was performed to demonstrate glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin in individual intermediate filaments to determine the diagnostic value of demonstrating ultrastructural and immunophenotypic characteristics of intermediate filaments in routine brain biopsy specimens. Dual expression of GFAP and vimentin was observed in the astroblastoma and astrocytes of Alexander's disease. The antigen availability for vimentin, however, was too low to allow reliable assessment of the GFAP:vimentin ratio in individual intermediate filaments and/or filament bundles. In meningioma, only vimentin positive intermediate filaments were found. GFAP positive intermediate filaments were present in all other specimens except the oligodendroglial components of the mixed glioma, which were devoid of intermediate filaments. GFAP positivity in the filamentous periphery and electron-dense core of Rosenthal fibers was demonstrated. Technical and tissue processing factors had a significant effect on particle density values obtained for individual specimens. Although the number, distribution, and density of glial intermediate filaments varies in different astroglial entities, correlation of particle density values determined by immunoelectron microscopy with relative GFAP concentrations in different lesions requires utmost caution. Nevertheless, application of the postembedding approach to routinely fixed biopsy specimens indicated an association of different entities with the exclusive presence of GFAP and/or vimentin in individual intermediate filaments, thus emphasizing the diagnostic value of intermediate filament typing for pathological characterization.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationBiotechnic and Histochemistry
dc.identifier.citation70
dc.identifier.citation6
dc.identifier.issn10520295
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/13444
dc.subjectglial fibrillary acidic protein
dc.subjectvimentin
dc.subjectalexander disease
dc.subjectarticle
dc.subjectbrain biopsy
dc.subjectbrain tumor
dc.subjectcell ultrastructure
dc.subjectcentral nervous system tumor
dc.subjectcross linking
dc.subjecthuman
dc.subjecthuman tissue
dc.subjectimmunoelectron microscopy
dc.subjectimmunohistochemistry
dc.subjectintermediate filament
dc.subjectmacroglia
dc.subjectquantitative diagnosis
dc.subjecttissue typing
dc.subjectAdolescent
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectAged
dc.subjectAstrocytoma
dc.subjectBrain Diseases
dc.subjectBrain Neoplasms
dc.subjectCentral Nervous System
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectGlial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectImmunohistochemistry
dc.subjectInfant
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectMicroscopy, Immunoelectron
dc.subjectNerve Fibers
dc.subjectTissue Embedding
dc.subjectVimentin
dc.titleSemiquantitative postembedding characterization of intermediate filaments in central nervous system lesions using immunoelectron microscopy
dc.typeArticle
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