EXPRESSION OF CALBINDIN-D28K BY REACTIVE ASTROCYTES IN GERBIL HIPPOCAMPUS AFTER ISCHEMIA

CALBINDIN-D28K (CALBINDIN) is a member of the superfamily of calcium-b inding proteins that is implicated in the regulation of intracellular calcium. In the adult mammalian brain, calbindin was thought to be pre sent only in neurones, where it is believed to serve a neuroprotective role. We now report the expression of calbindin after ischaemia in re active astrocytes in the CA1 subfield of the hippocampus. Since other calcium-binding proteins, such as S-100 and calmodulin, which induce t ransformation or proliferation of glia, occur in astrocytes, it is con ceivable that the expression of calbindin after ischaemia might be an important part of the process of gliosis.