IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE BRAIN GLUCOSE-TRANSPORTER (GLUT-1) IN EXPERIMENTAL GLIOSIS

The present study has examined the immunocytochemical expression of th e blood-brain barrier glucose transporter GLUT 1 as compared with GFAP in models of experimental gliosis. In neocortical grafts, gliosis was prominent at the graft-host interface mostly associated with blood ve ssels. Consecutive sections examined for anti-GLUT 1 showed that the p rotein was distributed in nearly an identical pattern to the anti-GFAP , staining fibrillar processes and all vessels and also appeared extra cellularly. In stab wounds, GLUT 1 immunoexpression was similar to GFA P reactivity and stained injured vessels and glial-like processes that were reminiscent of astrocytic end-feet. Normal glial cells and proce sses in unaffected neuropil, however, were never stained. This report suggests that GLUT 1 protein may be upregulated in non-endothelial com ponents, such as reactive astroglia or possibly microglia, that are as sociated with injured or angiogenic vessels.