E. Marti et al., INCREASE IN SNAP-25 IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN THE MOSSY FIBERS FOLLOWING TRANSIENT FOREBRAIN ISCHEMIA IN THE GERBIL, Acta Neuropathologica, 95(3), 1998, pp. 254-260
SNAP-25 (a synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa) has been shown t
o be involved both in synaptic vesicle exocytosis and in axonal outgro
wth. In the present study, we investigated the changes in SNAP-25 immu
noreactivity in the hippocampus of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones ungu
iculatus) at different time points after transient forebrain ischemia
insult. In parallel, immunostaining for GAP-43, a protein involved in
axonal outgrowth, and for syntaxin-1 (stx1A and stx1B), another protei
n implicated in neurotransmitter release, was also analyzed. The anima
ls were subjected to 2.5 or 5 min of transient forebrain ischemia thro
ugh bilateral common carotid occlusion, and examined at different inte
rvals after ischemia. SNAP-25 immunoreactivity was increased in the mo
ssy fiber layer as early as 2 days after 5 min of ischemia. Increased
SNAP-25 immunoreactivity in mossy fibers was also detected at days 4 a
nd 7 after ischemia. On day 15, SNAP-25 staining was similar to that o
bserved in control non-ischemic animals. In contrast, no changes in GA
P-43 and syntaxin-1 immunoreactivity were observed in the mossy fiber
layer following 5 min of ischemia. No modifications in SNAP-25, syntax
in-1 or GAP-43 immunoreactivity were observed following 2.5 min of isc
hemia, the longest period for which no neuronal damage is observed. Th
ese results provide evidence of a specific involvement of SNAP-25 in t
he reactive changes associated with transient forebrain ischemia.