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. 2022 Dec;158(6):561-569.
doi: 10.1007/s00418-022-02139-4. Epub 2022 Jul 19.

GLAST versus GFAP as astroglial marker for the subcellular study of cannabinoid CB1 receptors in astrocytes

Svein Achicallende  1   2 , Itziar Bonilla-Del Río  1   2 , Maitane Serrano  1   2 , Amaia Mimenza  1   2 , Leire Lekunberri  1   2 , Ilazki Anaut-Lusar  1   2 , Nagore Puente  1   2 , Inmaculada Gerrikagoitia  3   4 , Pedro Grandes  5   6
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GLAST versus GFAP as astroglial marker for the subcellular study of cannabinoid CB1 receptors in astrocytes

Svein Achicallende et al. Histochem Cell Biol. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

The cannabinoid CB1 receptor-mediated functions in astrocytes are highly dependent on the CB1 receptor distribution in these glial cells relative to neuronal sites, particularly at the nearby synapses under normal or pathological conditions. However, the portrait of the CB1 receptor distribution in astroglial compartments remains uncompleted because of the scarce CB1 receptor expression in these cells and the limited identification of astrocytes. The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is commonly used as astroglial marker. However, because GFAP is a cytoskeleton protein mostly restricted to the astroglial cell bodies and their main branches, it seems not ideal for the localization of CB1 receptor distribution in astrocytes. Therefore, alternative markers to decipher the actual astroglial CB1 receptors are required. In this work, we have compared the glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST) versus GFAP for the CB1 receptor localization in astrocytes. We found by immunoelectron microscopy that GLAST reveals almost three-fold astroglial area and four-fold astroglial membranes compared to GFAP. In addition, this better visualization of astrocytes was associated with the detection of 12% of the total CB1 receptor labeling in GLAST-positive astrocytes.

Keywords: Electron microscopy; Endocannabinoid system; Glia; Glial markers; Hippocampus; Immunocytochemistry.

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