[Glial fibrillary acidic protein in astrocytes of the human neocortex].

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a brain astrocyte-expressed protein that is recognized as one of the main immunohistochemical markers of these cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the structure of GFAP-positive astrocytes of human neocortex. Main types of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes in the human neocortex were characterized using immunohistochemistry and confocal laser microscopy. These are astrocytes of the layer I forming the surface border glial membrane, translaminar astrocytes of the layer I with very long processes penetrating several cortical layers, astrocytes of middle layers of the neocortex with a general organization of protoplasmic-type astrocytes which are involved in formation of perivascular border membrane, and typical fibrous astrocytes of the white matter. The data obtained will contribute to unification of evaluation of histopathologic processes observed in various kinds of gliosis in the CNS.