The cellular distribution of GAP-43 immunoreactivity in human neocortical areas using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy: post-ischemic influence.

The distribution of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) immunoreactive (IR) neurons were studied in human neocortical areas, using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. The GAP-43-IR cells were generally localised close to blood vessels, and contained fewer lipofuscin granules than GAP-43 negative cells. Quantification of the relative number of GAP-43-IR cells in control cases showed that the highest number of GAP-43-IR cells were present in layers III and V in the motor and visual cortices, fewer in the temporal cortex, and the lowest number in the frontal cortex. After general ischemia, GAP-43-IR cells were significantly reduced at various survival times, with the counts being lowest in the 1 week surviving case, and higher, but still subcontrol, in the 1 year post-ischemic case. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.