Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-like immunoreactivity in normal and transected rat olfactory nerve

Normal and transected rat olfactory nerves were stained immunohistochemically using a monoclonal antibody previously shown to selectively detect GFAP-like immunoreactivity in central astrocytes but not in peripheral Schwann cells. Low levels of "central" type GFAP were found in the olfactory nerves, presumably in ensheathing cells. The levels of GFAP increased dramatically after nerve transection. A population of strongly GFAP-positive cells was detected at the junction between the olfactory epithelium and initial part of the nerves, of possible relevance to the regenerative abilities of this pathway.