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Long-term evolution of local, proximal and remote astrocyte responses after diverse nucleus basalis lesioning (an experimental Alzheimer model): GFAP immunocytochemical study
Monzón-Mayor M, Alvarez M, Arbelo-Galván J, Romero-Alemán M, Yanes C, Plaza ML, Rodríguez JR, Rodríguez JJ et al.. Brain research, 2000-05-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
A study on long-term astrocytic responses (from 1 day to 20 months after lesioning in 4-month-old rats, and from 1 day to 6 months in 20-month-old rats) to diverse unilateral damage of the nucleus basalis (nbM) by injection of 40 nmol of ibotenic acid, or 50 or 100 nmols of quisqualic acid was performed using a histochemical method (immunoreactivity against the glial fibrillary acidic protein GFAP). Glial reactivity (i.e., isolated or clustered hypertrophic and/or hyper-reactive astrocytes) was evaluated in several ipsilateral and contralateral brain regions: the 'local response' within the damaged nbM region; the 'proximal response' (a new concept proposed by us) in the non-damaged structures neighbouring the nbM; and the 'remote response' in the ipsilateral brain cortex and in the contralateral cortex and nbM. In 4-month-old animals, the remote cortical glial responses, independent of the involution of cortical cholinergic activity and randomly located in layers I-V of motor and somatosensory cortical regions, were similar in appearance over a long period (13-20 months), with the highest reactivity 45 days after lesioning. The proximal response lasted from 1 day to 13 months and afterwards tended to disappear. Contralateral reactivity and ipsilateral cortical scars were observed. The local (nbM) glial response was maintained throughout the period studied. Subsets of astrocytes of different reactivities were observed, most of their elements being highly intermeshed. In 20-month-old animals, nbM lesions produced less positive, but similar, glial reactive patterns. This glial reactivity was superposed onto the glial reactivity of old age. All these results are discussed. The maintenance of reactive astrocytes many months after lesioning suggests the existence of cellular factors other than those produced by damaged nbM neurons. Taking into account the role of glial cells under pathological conditions, it is possible that these reactive astrocytes in humans could promote neurodegenerative processes, such as amyloid plaque formation and neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's disease). Along this line, nbM cholinergic involution could then originate cortical involution through induced reactive astrocytosis.
Key findings
- In 20-month-old animals, nbM lesions produced less positive, but similar, glial reactive patterns.
- This glial reactivity was superposed onto the glial reactivity of old age.
- The maintenance of reactive astrocytes many months after lesioning suggests the existence of cellular factors other than those produced by damaged nbM neurons.
- Taking into account the role of glial cells under pathological conditions, it is possible that these reactive astrocytes in humans could promote neurodegenerative processes, such as amyloid plaque formation and neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's disease).
- Along this line, nbM cholinergic involution could then originate cortical involution through induced reactive astrocytosis.
Why it matters
In rats with nucleus basalis lesions, reactive astrocytes were found in local, proximal and remote brain regions and persisted for many months. This is an animal study from 2000 and does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 30/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Brain research) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Brain Research: journal h-index 399 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2000 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 24 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.9 citations a year over 28 year(s) since 2000 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 1.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author A. Tolédano: h-index 19 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Universidad de La Laguna: institution h-index 471 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 10821927) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 30 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
May need a subscription Unpaywall, Europe PMC and OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 10 Oct 2026), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Monzón-Mayor, M., Alvarez, M., Arbelo-Galván, J., Romero-Alemán, M., Yanes, C., Plaza, M. L., et al. (2000). Long-term evolution of local, proximal and remote astrocyte responses after diverse nucleus basalis lesioning (an experimental Alzheimer model): GFAP immunocytochemical study. Brain research. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-8993(00)02231-9
Vancouver
Monzón-Mayor M, Alvarez M, Arbelo-Galván J, Romero-Alemán M, Yanes C, Plaza ML, et al. Long-term evolution of local, proximal and remote astrocyte responses after diverse nucleus basalis lesioning (an experimental Alzheimer model): GFAP immunocytochemical study. Brain research. 2000. doi:10.1016/s0006-8993(00)02231-9. PMID: 10821927.
BibTeX
@article{monzonmayor2000-10821927,
author = {Monzón-Mayor, M. and Alvarez, M. and Arbelo-Galván, J. and Romero-Alemán, M. and Yanes, C. and Plaza, M. L. and Rodríguez, JR. and Rodríguez, J. J. and others},
title = {{Long-term evolution of local, proximal and remote astrocyte responses after diverse nucleus basalis lesioning (an experimental Alzheimer model): GFAP immunocytochemical study}},
journal = {Brain research},
year = {2000},
doi = {10.1016/s0006-8993(00)02231-9},
pmid = {10821927},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-8993(00)02231-9}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.