Astrocytes colonize dorsal root ganglia transplanted into rat brain

Fragments of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were grafted into rat brain and examined one month later. The autografts were similar to their normal counterparts when stained with toluidine blue or by indirect immunofluorescence with laminin and neurofilament antibodies. However, a major difference was observed with antibodies to the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Normal DRG were GFAP-negative while the autografts were intensely and diffusely stained. The GFAP antibodies used in this study did not decorate Schwann cells or satellite cells in peripheral nerve and DRG, and thus appeared to recognize the "central" form of GFAP (17). Thus reactive astrocytes appear to be capable of migration into grafted nervous tissues without producing apparent neuronal damage.