ABSTRACT

Air pollution has been associated with neuroinflammatory processes and is considered a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Volcanic environments are considered a natural source of air pollution. However, the effects of natural source air pollution on the central nervous system (CNS) have not been reported, despite the fact that up to 10% of the world’s population lives near a historically active volcano. In order to assess the response of the CNS to such exposure, our study was conducted in the island of Sao Miguel (Azores, Portugal) in two different areas: Furnas, which is volcanically active one, and compared to Rabo de Peixe, a reference site without manifestations of active volcanism using Mus musculus as a bioindicator species. To evaluate the state of the astroglial population in the dentate gyrus in both samples, the number of astrocytes was determined using immunofluorescence methods (anti-GFAP and anti-GS). In addition, the astrocytic branches in that hippocampal area were examined. Our results showed an increase in GFAP+ astrocytes and a reduction in GS+ astrocytes in Furnas-exposed mice compared to animals from Rabo de Peixe. In addition, astrocytes in the dentate gyrus of chronically exposed animals exhibited longer branches compared to those residing at the reference site. Thus, reactive astrogliosis and astrocyte dysfunction are found in mice living in an active volcanic environment.

摘要

空气污染与神经炎症过程有关，被认为是神经退行性疾病发展的危险因素。火山环境被认为是空气污染的自然来源。然而，尽管世界上多达10％的人口居住在历史悠久的火山附近，但尚未报道自然空气污染对中枢神经系统（CNS）的影响。为了评估中枢神经系统对此类暴露的响应，我们在圣米格尔岛（葡萄牙亚速尔群岛）的两个不同区域进行了研究：富尔纳斯火山活动活跃，并与参考文献拉博·德·佩西进行了比较。没有使用小家鼠的活跃火山活动的迹象作为生物指示剂物种。为了评估两个样品中齿状回中星形胶质细胞的状态，使用免疫荧光方法（抗GFAP和抗GS）确定星形胶质细胞的数量。此外，检查了该海马区的星形细胞分支。我们的结果显示，与来自Rabo de Peixe的动物相比，暴露于Furnas的小鼠中GFAP +星形胶质细胞增加，而GS +星形胶质细胞减少。此外，与暴露在参考部位的那些相比，长期暴露的动物的齿状回中的星形胶质细胞显示出更长的分支。因此，在活火山环境中的小鼠中发现了反应性星形胶质细胞增生和星形胶质细胞功能异常。