Immunoreactive Detection of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) from the Brain of Bombyx mori

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the primary intermediate filament protein as a marker for the identification of astrocytes in the central nervous system in vertebrates. This present study was performed to identify GFAP-immunoreactive neurons in invertebrate (moth) by the light microscopy immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Our results indicated the presence of GFAP-like positive cell processes and cell bodies in the developing stages. The amount of GFAP immunoreactivity was maximized in the 3 instar larva but diminished it, approaching to 5 instar. This changed amount of GFAP was also confirmed by immunoblotting with developing stages. GFAP immunoreactivity was also observed in both axons within nervi corpora cardiaci (NCC) I +II and corpora allata (NCA). We suggest that this glial filament protein may be conserved in the evolution of the invertebrate nervous systems and that it may be used as a label for some types of glial cells and as neurotransmitter of neuromodulator in the moth.