THE INFLUENCE OF AGE ON SUPRAOPTIC NUCLEUS GLIAL-CELLS OF THE MOUSE

In 2-year-old mice, astrocytes of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus, placed in close contact with the meningeal covering cont ained concentric arrangements of cisterns in their cytoplasm called gl ial concentric bodies (GCBs). They are formed by a variable number of flattened cisterns without pores, and no anastomosis was observed betw een adjacent cisterns. Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) cisterns do n ot show continuity with fully developed GCBs, although a close continu ity between RER cisterns and GCBs was present in images suggesting GCB formation. Concomitantly with the appearance of GCBs, ventral neurose cretory neurons of the SON showed a cytoplasmic membrane reinforced by the apposition of glial prolongations. The possible origin and functi on of these GCBs and lamellae are discussed here.