Isolation of pseudoperoxidase-positive astrocyte granules from intact rat brain and cysteamine-treated neuroglial cultures.

A subpopulation of astrocytes in periventricular regions of aging brain and in cysteamine (CSH)-treated glial cultures contain autofluorescent cytoplasmic granules that exhibit an affinity for Gomori's chrome alum hematoxylin (CAH), and non-enzymatic peroxidase activity. Although shown to be histochemically distinct from lipofuscin, the lack of pure preparations of these glial inclusions has hindered the elucidation of their precise chemical constituents. Using sucrose gradient fractionation and density centrifugation on percoll, we obtained enriched preparations of astrocyte cytoplasmic granules from intact rat brain and CSH-treated astrocyte cultures. The presence and relative purity of these inclusions were confirmed by laser scanning confocal microscopy for red autofluorescent granules, diaminobenzidine histochemistry for non-enzymatic peroxidase activity and chrome alum hematoxylin (Gomori) staining. In the enriched fractions, the smaller granules (0.5-4.0 microns) were spherical and weakly autofluorescent, whereas larger inclusions (5.0-10.0 microns) tended to be intensely autofluorescent and pleomorphic. As in situ, the purified material was argyrophilic and did not stain for lipids. Isolation of these astrocytic inclusions should permit a more thorough characterization of their biochemical contents.