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天然来源。然而，尽管世界上多达 10% 的人口居住在历史悠久的活火山附近，但尚未报告自然源空气污染对中枢神经系统 (CNS) 的影响。为了评估 CNS 对此类暴露的反应，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：火山活跃的 Furnas，并与参考 Rabo de Peixe 进行了比较没有使用Mus musculus的活跃火山活动表现的地点作为生物指示物种。为了评估两个样本中齿状回中星形胶质细胞群的状态，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，还检查了该海马区的星形胶质细胞分支。我们的结果显示，与来自 Rabo de Peixe 的动物相比，Furnas 暴露小鼠的 GFAP+ 星形胶质细胞增加，GS+ 星形胶质细胞减少。此外，与居住在参考部位的星形胶质细胞相比，长期暴露的动物齿状回中的星形胶质细胞表现出更长的分支。因此，在生活在活跃火山环境中的小鼠中发现了反应性星形胶质细胞增生症和星形胶质细胞功能障碍。