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ISSN 2522-9028 (Print)
ISSN 2522-9036 (Online)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/fz

Fiziologichnyi Zhurnal

(English title: Physiological Journal)

is a scientific journal issued by the

Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Editor-in-chief: V.F. Sagach

The journal was founded in 1955 as
1955 – 1977 "Fiziolohichnyi zhurnal" (ISSN 0015 – 3311)
1978 – 1993 "Fiziologicheskii zhurnal" (ISSN 0201 – 8489)
1994 – 2016 "Fiziolohichnyi zhurnal" (ISSN 0201 – 8489)
2017 – "Fiziolohichnyi zhurnal" (ISSN 2522-9028)

Fiziol. Zh. 2026; 72(3): 3-10

MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF ASTROCYTES IN THE BASAL MAGNOCELLULAR NUCLEUS OF THE BRAIN OF RATS FOLLOWING INTRACEREBROVENTRICULAR COLCHICINE ADMINISTRATION

M. V. Danukalo1, Yu. M. Kolesnyk2

  1. Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/fz72.03.003


Abstract

In assessing astrocyte morphological changes during neurodegenerative conditions, which reflect both their protective and pathological functional aspects, the application of automated image processing software is essential. This approach establishes a reliable foundation for standardizing gliosis evaluation and allows for obtaining precise quantitative data regarding the state of the astrocyte cytoskeleton. In the basal magnocellular nucleus (BMN) – a cluster of cholinergic neurons whose death exacerbates cognitive impairment – such investigations are particularly relevant given the medical and social significance of dementia. Aim: to study the morphological features of cells immunopositive to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the basal magnocellular nucleus of rats following intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of colchicine using modern methods of computer image processing. The study was conducted on three groups of Wistar rats (10 animals in each): intact, sham-operated, and animals with colchicine-induced neurodegeneration. Fourteen days after the intervention, immunofluorescence microscopy of GFAP + cells in the BMN was performed. Using the ImageJ program, the density and area of immunopositive cells, corrected total cell fluorescence (CTCF), the number of astrocyte processes, and their length were evaluated Compared to intact animals, ICV colchicine administration led to an increase in immunopositive cell density (43.5%), cell area (183.9%), and CTCF (163.6%) in the NBM. Relative to the sham-operated group, these parameters increased by 56.3%, 254.5%, and 193.4%, respectively. At the same time, there was a significant decrease in the number of processes (by 75% compared to the control groups) and an increase in their length (by 236.9% compared to intact rats and by 188.8% compared to sham-operated rats). The data indicate hypertrophy and hyperplasia of astrocytes in the BMN after ICV colchicine administration. Hypertrophied astrocytes are characterized by increased GFAP expression, greater process length, and fewer processes than in control rats.

Keywords: astrocytes; GFAP; colchicine; brain; rats.

Full text: (PDF, in Ukrainian)

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