| Abstract: | The reaction pattern of astrocytes was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry and morphometry in 36 brain regions of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infected patients and of normal controls. The numerical density of astrocytes immunoreactive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was determined. In HIV1 infected brains, the number of GFAP-positive astrocytes was significantly increased in all investigated brain regions as compared with normal controls. The increase in number of GFAP-positive, reactive astrocytes might play a crucial role in triggering pathogenetic mechanisms leading to cell damage and death in HIV1 infected brains. |
