Nestin immune labeling in human adult trigeminal ganglia

Nestin labels neuroepithelial stem cells and endothelial cells in newly formedblood vessels. The aim of the study was to investigate the immunolocalization of nestin in human adult trigeminal ganglia. Autopsy samples from eight human adult cadavers were paraffin embedded, and immunostained with anti-nestin antibody.Satellite glial cells (SGCs) and intraganglionic microvessels were positivelylabeled with nestin, which is usually expressed in endothelial cells of newlyformed blood vessels. Nestin-positive SGCs have been previously reported in rattrigeminal ganglia. Our study is the first to identify them in human trigeminalganglia. Further studies are needed to evaluate if the nestin phenotype of SGCsrelates to the functional plasticity of these cells or to glial and/or neuronalremodeling in adults. Intrinsic angiogenesis in the adult trigeminal ganglionshould be further checked as to whether it relates to a normal vascularremodeling or if it represents an overlooked determinant of trigeminal neuralgia.