Schematic diagram summarizing the distribution analysis of S100B-labeled astrocytes in the hippocampus of 10 and 28-week-old CD-1 control and S100B transgenic mice. 10 weeks: CD 1 animals showed a high density of large complex cells in CA1 SR, and a large number of small, simple cells in CA1 LM. Although similar cell types occurred in these regions of the S100B mice, their numbers were markedly reduced. In CA3, CD1 mice had a large number of medium to large simple cells, while the S100B mice again showed far fewer cells, which were smaller simple cells. In addition, there were a number of small atypical cells. Again, in the dentate gyrus, the adolescent CD-1 animals showed predominantly medium-sized complex cells, while the S100B animals showed small, simple cells. Occasionally, the S100 animals had small atypical cells within the polymorphic region of DG, which were virtually absent from the CD-1 mice. The cells of the S100B animals showed pronounced “haloes” of tissue S100B-IR around all cell types of all regions, suggesting large amounts of S-100B release. A representative photomicrograph of these findings is given in Figure 5. 28 weeks: As the CD-1 animals matured, the number of complex cells in CA1 SR decline, but there continue to be a large number of small simple cells in LM. In CA3, the cells have become more complex. The dentate gyrus shows fewer complex cells, more simple cells, and now the occasional complex cell is seen within the polymorphic region. In the S100B animals, there continues to be an overall decrease in S100B-IR cells throughout the hippocampus, compared to adult CD 1 mice. The atypical cells first seen in adolescence are now larger and more numerous, particularly in CA3. These cells are virtually absent from the CD-1 mice at any age. CA1 cells are simple of mixed size, with an absence of complex cells. There are a small number of complex cells in CA3, more than in adolescent S100B animals, but smaller and fewer than in CD1 adults. Cells of the DG are predominantly medium sized simple and occasionally medium-sized complex. The atypical cells are not seen here. Again, large haloes (Figure 5) of S100B-IR are seen around the cells.