Figure 8.

CNTF-activated astrocytes handle toxic extracellular palmitate. Exposure to 0.2 mm BSA-bound palmitate is toxic to Veh-treated astrocytes (labeled for GFAP, green), but has no detectable effect on MAP2-positive neurons (red). Veh-treated astrocytes exposed to palmitate have a lower density than controls (CTR) and display morphological abnormalities, visible at higher magnification as fewer thin processes and globular endings (arrowhead). In CNTF-treated cultures, palmitate has no detectable effect on GFAP-positive astrocytes. When β-oxidation is inhibited by 2 mm 4-pentenoate (4-P), CNTF-activated astrocytes are no longer resistant to palmitate exposure. Images are representative of results obtained in two to three wells from three independent cultures. Scale bars: top, 50 μm; bottom,10 μm.