Immunocytochemical analyses of astrocyte development in the olfactory bulb

Several lines of evidence suggest an important role for glia in establishing boundaries during development of mammalian cortex and insect olfactory lobe. In the adult rat olfactory bulb distinct morphological categories of astroglial cells with clear laminar specificity are easily recognized following immunocytochemical staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). To explore the developmental distribution of olfactory bulb astrocytes and their possible role in establishing the segregation of neurons in specific olfactory bulb laminae, we used immunocytochemical localization of GFAP in rats at 0, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 21 days postnatal plus the adult. In the adult we confirmed prior observations and identified five morphological categories of astrocytes: linear, wedge, elongate, semicircular, and circular. Each category had a unique sublaminar distribution across the olfactory bulb, although categories could occur in more than one lamina. Between 0 and 21 days postnatal a 6th category was apparent, radial glial cells. The mature astrocyte morphologies did not emerge uniformly. Astrocytes found in the outermost glomerular layer developed first with the appearance of the linear, wedge and elongate morphologies. Deeper laminate of the olfactory bulb followed in a successive fashion until the adult pattern was evident around 15 days postnatal. As radial glia disappeared, the mature morphologies assumed their final position. The data suggest that the maturation of olfactory bulb astrocytes may be linked to the final migration and maturation of olfactory bulb neurons.