Reactive astrocytes in viral infections of the XXXX brain express endothelin-like immunoreactivity.

@entity1 @entity778 @entity198 @entity1885 @entity39 @entity1800 @entity8300 @entity62
In order to investigate the expression of endothelin-like immunoreactivity in astrocytes of viral infections of the @entity1 brain the avidin- @entity1885 peroxidase complex method and a polyclonal antiserum were used. Autopsy material was obtained from 5 cases of herpes simplex @entity198 , two of progressive multifocal @entity62 (PML) and two of subacute @entity8300 ( @entity8300 ). All the 5 herpes simplex @entity198 cases presented groups of immunoreactive astrocytes around @entity39 , inflammatory lesions. The PML cases exhibited a large number of immunoreactive astrocytes in and around lesions of the white matter. The cases of @entity8300 disclosed numerous, markedly stained fibrillary immunoreactive astrocytes; they were most abundant in degenerated regions of the white matter. The processes and peripheral cytoplasm of giant astrocytes in the PML cases contained immunoreactive material but the perinuclear region was devoid of such material. In the herpes simplex and the @entity8300 cases immunoreactivity was present throughout the cytoplasm and processes of reactive fibrillary astrocytes. Many nerve cells in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and pons of control cases exhibited endothelin-like immunoreactivity but this occurred in only exceptional astrocytes of control cases. Endothelin-like immunoreactivity was not present in the oligodendrocytes and vascular endothelial cells of controls and cases of @entity778 . The expression of endothelin-like immunoreactivity in astrocytes in @entity1 @entity1800 reflects probably an increased intracellular content of endothelin. If this peptide is released from such astrocytes, it may act as a mitogen and by inducing constriction of arterioles it may influence the microcirculation.
