Suppression of glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in astrocytes of the superficial glial delimiting membrane in traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Astrocyte reactions to brain damage are usually accompanied by increases in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, though it remains unclear whether this reaction is universal. The aim of the present work was to study the reactions of astrocytes in the superficial glial delimiting membrane of the human brain to traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Light microscopy and immunocytochemical studies showed that GFAP expression is suppressed in astrocytes in the superficial glial delimiting membrane for periods of up to three days from the moment of craniocerebral trauma accompanied by subarachnoid hemorrhage. These data provide evidence for the existence of regional characteristics in the reactions of astrocytes.