NeuN-immunopositive cells in subfornical organ of spontaneously hypertensive rats

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the predominant risk factors for the development of several cardiovascular and central nervous system diseases. It is important to investigate the hypertensive effects on the tissue of brain areas, lacking blood-brain barrier, such as the subfornical organ, as they provide the CNS response to stress and damage. AIM: The aim of the research was to study the localization and functional status of the neuronal cell population within the subfornical organ of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on paraffin sections of the brain of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and Wistar rats (n = 12). Mouse monoclonal antibodies against NeuN were used for the light microscopy. Images were analyzed by the Fiji software. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that the spatial neuron distribution of the subfornical organ of Wistar and SHR rats is different. NeuN-positive cells of the subfornical organ of Wistar rats demonstrated dense distribution. On the contrary, subfornical organ neurons of SHRs tended to form separate groups. That observation was additionally confirmed by cluster analysis. Between the groups of NeuN-positive cells. Histochemical counterstain revealed that the gaps between neuronal groups are composed of glial cells. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed neurons in the subfornical organ of spontaneously hypertensive rats may undergo reorganization, which is, apparently, caused by the neuronal cell death and gliosis.