GLIAL FIBRILLARY ACIDIC PROTEIN AND VIMENTIN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY IN THE POSTERIOR RHOMBENCEPHALON OF THE IBERIAN BARB (BARBUS-COMIZA)

The gustatory centers (vagal lobes and facial lobe) and the tegment of the posterior rhombencephalon of the Iberan barb (Barbus comiza) have been studied using anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (anti-GFAP) and anti-vimentin immunohistochemical techniques. GFAP immunoreactivity was found in the tegment and in a part of the vagal lobes while vimentin immunoreactivity was located in the tegment. Two immunopositive cell types were found: ependymocytes and radial astrocytes. Since the distribution of GFAP in the barb rhombencephalon corresponding with zones previously described as cholinergic, the GFAP-immunopositive radial astrocytes might be involved in acetylcholine metabolism.