Alteration in hippocampal and cerebral expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein following styrene exposure in rat

In order to investigate the neuropathological effects on the central nervous system of the rat by styrene exposure, identification of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was observed using immunohistochemical staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy in the rat treated with styrene at 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg for 2 weeks. Both styrene-treated groups showed a marked increase of GFAP expression in cerebral cortex and hippocampus compared with the control group. These changes showed a dose- and time-dependent manner. Increased expression of GFAP in cerebral cortex and hippocampus provided the effects of styrene on the structure of cerebral cortex and hippocampus objectively.