Abstract
The glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFA protein or GFAP) is the major protein constituent of glial intermediate filaments in differentiated fibrous and protoplasmic astrocytes of the central nervous system. Proteins having similar molecular weights, isoelectric points, and immunoreactivity with GFAP have been found in cells of neural crest and ectodermal origin. A putative function ascribed to glial filaments is its role as a component of the cytoskeleton in defining and maintaining the shape of the astrocyte. Since 1980, over 350 reports have utilized antisera to GFAP for immunochemical and immunocytochemical studies.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Antibody Specificity
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Astrocytes / analysis*
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Fractionation / methods
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Central Nervous System / analysis
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Cytoskeleton / analysis*
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Epitopes
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / analysis*
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / immunology
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Histocytochemistry
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Humans
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Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
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Immunochemistry
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Microtubules / analysis
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Peptide Fragments / analysis
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Peripheral Nerves / analysis
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Postmortem Changes
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal
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Epitopes
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
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Peptide Fragments