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Composition of Gomori-positive inclusions in astrocytes of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Background:
Astrocytes within the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus contain Gomori-positive inclusions that exhibit a nonenzymatic peroxidase activity. The source and composition of these Gomori-positive inclusions are currently unknown. Recent evidence, derived from cultured astrocytes, suggests that Gomori-positive inclusions may consist of autophagocytized accumulations of altered mitochondria and that the peroxidase activity is generated by iron or other metals which accumulate in these mitochondria.
Methods:
The present study applies electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and immunocytochemistry in conjunction with confocal microscopy to determine the structure and composition of Gomori-positive inclusions in vivo.
Results:
The results indicate that Gomori-positive inclusions are heterogeneous structures often associated with microtubules and that they contain conspicuous mitochondrial components. Gomori-positive inclusions exhibit X-ray emission peaks for copper and, less often, chromium, either of which could account for the peroxidase activity.
Conclusions:
These results support the hypothesis that Gomori-positive inclusions are autophagosomes in which mitochondria are prominent.