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Colocalization of luteinizing hormone and serotonin in secretory granules of mammalian gonadotrophs.

Previous studies have demonstrated the uptake of exogenous and storage of endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in parenchymal cells of the anterior pituitary. The present experiments were undertaken to test the hypothesis that the endogenous 5-HT of the anterior lobe of the pituitary is costored with beta-luteinizing hormone (beta-LH) within the same secretory granules of gonadotrophs. Electron microscope immunocytochemistry was used to detect 5-HT and beta-LH immunoreactivities in the anterior pituitary glands of mice and bats. Primary antisera generated in different species of animals to these two antigens were localized with appropriate species-specific secondary antisera coupled to colloidal gold particles of different sizes. This enabled 5-HT and beta-LH immunoreactivities to be demonstrated simultaneously on ultrathin sections of fixed anterior lobe tissue mounted on electron microscope (EM) grids. In both bats and mice 5-HT immunoreactivity, identified by immunostaining of beta-LH, was found in gonadotrophs, and in no other cell type. Within gonadotrophs about 25% of the secretory granules were labeled by antisera to both 5-HT and beta-LH, although 100% of granules reacted with the antiserum to B-LH. No secretory granules were found that were immunostained only by the antiserum to 5-HT. It is concluded that endogenous 5-HT may be a normal constituent of mammalian gonadotrophs and that it is colocalized with beta-LH in at least a subset of the secretory granules of these cells. It cannot yet be concluded that gonadotrophs synthesize 5-HT as well as taking it up from the ambient medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Gamma actin, spectrin, and intermediate filament proteins colocalize with vinculin at costameres, myofibril-to-sarcolemma attachment sites.

Localization of vinculin at the sarcolemma of striated muscle fibers defines an orthogonal lattice. The costameres of the lattice are the riblike bands of vinculin that run perpendicular to the long axis of the fiber, repeat in register with I bands of the subjacent myofibrils, and seem to couple the myofibril to the sarcolemma [Pardo et al 1982, 1983a]. The colocalization studies presented in this paper show that gamma actin, spectrin, and intermediate filament antigens are additional components of this lattice of costameres. In addition, the results show that gamma actin and spectrin are also components of the internal network of collars, first visualized with antibody to desmin [Granger and Lazarides, 1978], that connects the myofibrils to each other at the level of the Z line.

Actins

Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity and glycine high-affinity uptake colocalize to an interplexiform cell of the Xenopus laevis retina.

Antibodies directed against somatostatin have been used to label a population of interplexiform cells (IPCs) in the Xenopus laevis retina. These cells have spherical soma which lie in the inner nuclear layer (INL), adjacent to or one cell distal to the inner plexiform layer (IPL). Processes from these cells project throughout the IPL, with a fairly dense accumulation of labeled dendrites in the upper two-fifths of the IPL and a dense, narrow band of labeled dendrites adjacent to the ganglion cell layer. These cells also have finer processes, originating at the cell body, that traverse the INL and ramify in the outer plexiform layer (OPL). Double label experiments show that all of the cells that contain somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SOM-LI) in the INL are also labeled by high-affinity uptake with 3H-glycine. Immunocytochemistry of retinal whole mounts shows that these cells are evenly distributed across the retina at a density of 542 +/- 65 cells/mm2. On the basis of the colocalization experiments and the morphological homogeneity of these cells, we suggest that they represent a single cell type. Interplexiform cell processes were further characterized by electron microscopy after immunocytochemistry or 3H-glycine autoradiography. In the IPL, IPC processes are seen to be postsynaptic at both ribbon and conventional synapses. This input is found almost entirely in the distal two-fifths of the IPL. Interplexiform cell processes are presynaptic to unlabeled processes in both the distal and proximal IPL. In the OPL, labeled processes are found near or contiguous with photoreceptor bases, and are often presynaptic to small-diameter processes. The postsynaptic processes have been identified as bipolar cell dendrites in six cases. Interplexiform cell processes may also contact horizontal cell processes in the OPL.

Animals

Nerve growth factor receptor immunoreactivity in the nonhuman primate (Cebus apella): distribution, morphology, and colocalization with cholinergic enzymes.

A monoclonal antibody raised against the receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF) was used to examine the distribution and morphology of NGF receptor-containing neurons within the central nervous system of Cebus apella monkeys. Most somata demonstrating positive immunoreactivity were localized within the Ch1-4 regions of the basal forebrain. Neurons in the Ch1 region displayed morphological features typical of cholinergic medial septal neurons. These perikarya were primarily vertically oriented (40-50 micron along the vertical axis) with both apical and basal neuritic processes. Magnocellular (40-50 micron) neurons within the Ch2 (vertical limb of the diagonal band), Ch3 (horizontal limb of the diagonal band) and Ch4 (nucleus basalis of Meynert) regions were multipolar and had rounded perikarya that often displayed an eccentric nucleus. Fibers presumably originating from the Ch1-2 regions were observed throughout the fimbria-fornix system and were found to terminate preferentially within the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampal formation and within the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. An intense fiber network was also observed in the olfactory tubercle and other rhinencephalic structures, presumably originating from the Ch3 region of the basal forebrain. Beaded processes emanating from the Ch4 region primarily coursed within the external capsule and terminated preferentially within layers I, II, and IV of the cerebral cortex. In a pattern similar to that of cortical acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining, NGF receptor immunopositive fibers were oriented in a tangential plane within the molecular layer of the cortex and in both a radial and tangential fashion within the cortical granular cell layers. In addition to neural innervation, there was an extensive vascular apposition by NGF receptor-containing neurites on both large caliber vessels and microcapillaries. NGF receptor immunoreactivity was extensively, but not exclusively, colocalized with choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and AChE in the basal forebrain. A small population of cholinergic neurons were observed that were not NGF receptor-immunoreactive. Conversely, a few NGF receptor-containing neurons that were noncholinergic were also observed in this brain region. NGF receptor-containing somata were also identified in the putamen. The number of immunoreactive neurons observed in this structure, however, would not appear to be sufficient to account for the homologous NGF receptor binding densities described in rodents.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholinesterase

Nerve growth factor receptor and choline acetyltransferase colocalization in neurons within the rat forebrain: response to fimbria-fornix transection.

Although it is well known that magnocellular cholinergic basal forebrain neurons are trophically responsive to nerve growth factor (NGF) and contain NGF receptors (NGFr), the exact distribution of forebrain NGFr-immunoreactive neurons and the degree to which cholinergic neurons are colocalized with them have remained in question. In this study we employed a very sensitive double-labelling method and examined in the same tissue section the distribution and cellular features of NGFr-positive and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-immunolabelled neurons within the rat basal forebrain. Throughout this region the majority of magnocellular basal forebrain neurons were immunoreactive for both NGFr and ChAT. However, a small percentage of neurons in the ventral portion of the vertical limb of the diagonal band of Broca were immunoreactive only for NGFr, whereas a larger population of magnocellular neurons in the substantia innominata exhibited only ChAT immunoreactivity. No NGFr-immunoreactive cells were found associated with ChAT-positive neurons in the striatum, neocortex, or hippocampus, and no single-labelled NGFr-immunoreactive neurons were found outside the basal forebrain area, except for a large number of positive-labelled cells along the ventricular walls of the third ventricle. In addition to its function in maintaining the normal integrity of the basal forebrain and cholinergic, peripheral sympathetic, and neural-crest-derived sensory neurons, NGF may also have a role in the growth of these neurons after damage to the nervous system. To examine this postulate the hippocampus was denervated of its septal input and examined 8 weeks later. Two populations of neurons were found to have undergone collateral sprouting--namely, the midline magnocellular cholinergic neurons of the dorsal hippocampus and the sympathetic noradrenergic neurons of the superior cervical ganglion. Both of these neuronal populations also stained strongly for NGFr. In contrast, the small intrinsic cholinergic neurons of the hippocampus exhibited neither sprouting response nor staining for NGFr. In view of these results, we suggest that the differing sprouting responses demonstrated by these three neuronal populations may be due to their responsiveness to NGF, as indicated by the presence or absence of NGF receptors.

Animals

Enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the cat superior colliculus: distribution, ultrastructure, and colocalization with GABA.

The distribution of enkephalin (ENK) immunoreactivity has been examined in the cat superior colliculus (SC) by means of light and electron microscope immunocytochemistry. The antisera were directed against leucine enkephalin but also recognized methionine enkephalin. Colocalization of ENK with gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) was studied with a two-chromagen double-labeling technique. Enkephalin antiserum labeling was highly specific. Dense neuropil labeling was found only in a thin band 75-100 microns wide within the upper superficial gray layer of SC. Negligible neuropil labeling was seen deeper, except for patches of label within the intermediate gray layer. Intensely labeled neurons also had a specific distribution. Forty-seven percent were located within the upper 200 microns of SC, 40% within the deep superficial gray layer, 11% in the optic layer, and only 2% below that layer. Almost all ENK-labeled cells were small (mean area of 117 microns2). Some of these had horizontal fusiform cell bodies and horizontally oriented dendrites. Others had small round somata and thin, obliquely oriented dendrites. In double-labeling experiments, 18% of anti-ENK-labeled cells were also immunoreactive for GABA. Four distinct types of ENK-labeled profile were identified with the electron microscope. Presynaptic dendrites (PSD) with loose accumulations of synaptic vesicles were densely labeled with the antiserum. Conventional dendrites were also labeled. Both types of labeled profile received input from unlabeled synaptic terminals, including those from the retina that contained pale mitochondria and round synaptic vesicles and formed asymmetric synaptic contacts. Retinal terminals were never labeled with the antisera. However, some axon terminals with round synaptic vesicles, dark mitochondria, and symmetric synaptic densities were labeled by the antisera, as were some thinly myelinated axons. These results show that there is a small population of enkephalinergic neurons in the cat SC, some of which also contain GABA. Because not all cells with identical morphologies were double labeled, it appears that neurons of like morphology are chemically heterogeneous.

Animals

Nerve growth factor receptor immunoreactive profiles in the normal, aged human basal forebrain: colocalization with cholinergic neurons.

A monoclonal antibody raised against the receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF) has been used to map the distribution of NGF receptor-containing profiles within the human basal forebrain of four male and three female elderly patients without neurologic or psychiatric illness. Immunohistochemically processed tissue reveals a continuum of NGF receptor-positive neurons located within the medial septum, vertical and horizontal limb nuclei of the diagonal band, and nucleus basalis. NGF receptor-containing neurons are also found within the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the anterior commissure, the internal capsule, and the internal and external medullary laminae of the globus pallidus. Virtually all (greater than 95%) NGF receptor-containing neurons colocalize with the specific cholinergic marker choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) or the nonspecific marker acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Conversely, a few cholinergic perikarya are found which are not NGF receptor positive (and vice versa). These findings demonstrate that human basal forebrain neurons on which NGF receptor immunoreactivity is detected are primarily cholinergic and analogous to the nonhuman primate Ch1-Ch4 subgroups of Mesulam et al. (J. Comp. Neurol., 214:170-197, '83). NGF receptor-containing fiber tracts are observed emanating from the medial septum and vertical limb nucleus of the diagonal band coursing medially within the fornix. Another fascicle originating mainly from the nucleus basalis and travelling within the external capsule enroute to the cortex is observed innervating all cortical layers. Comparison of NGF receptor- and ChAT-containing neurons reveals cholinergic perikarya within the striatal complex, whereas virtually no NGF receptor-containing neurons are found in these structures. An occasional displaced NGF receptor-containing neurons is seen in the ventrolateral portion of the putamen and the white matter underlying the nucleus accumbens. These data are discussed in terms of the relationship of NGF receptor- and ChAT-containing neurons within the basal forebrain and in terms of the possible functional significance of NGF in normal and diseased brain.

Acetylcholinesterase

SCPB-and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivities in lobster neurons: colocalization of distinct peptides or colabeling of the same peptide(s)?

Virtually all of the SCPB-like immunoreactive neurons (ca. 60 cells) in the lobster Homarus americanus also contain FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity. Control experiments reveal that SCPB-and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivities are successfully preadsorbed with their specific antigens, while the normal staining pattern is retained following preadsorption of each antibody with the alternate peptide. These experiments potentially lead to the conclusion that the anti-SCPB and anti-FMRFamide antibodies are labeling distinct compounds that are colocalized in lobster neurons. The lobster nervous system does not, however, contain authentic FMRFamide, but rather several FMRFamide-like compounds (Trimmer et al., J. Comp. Neurol. 266:16-26, 1987). The most abundant of these is the octapeptide TNRNFLRFamide. Experiments demonstrate that SCPB-like immunoreactivity is completely preadsorbed with synthetic TNRNFLRFamide, while there is a significant or complete loss of staining after preadsorption of the FMRFamide antibody with this molecule. Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe-amide (YGGFMRFamide), an extended opioid peptide containing the FMRFamide sequence, also preadsorbs SCPB- and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivities, while Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe (YGGFMRF) has no effect on the staining properties of these antibodies. These results suggest that the SCPB antibody can bind to extended forms of FMRFamide-like molecules, and that anti-SCPB and anti-FMRFamide antibodies may be colabeling one or more FMRFamide-like molecules in lobster neurons.

Amino Acid Sequence

Ultrastructural localization of neurotensin-like immunoreactivity within dense core vesicles in perikarya, but not terminals, colocalizing tyrosine hydroxylase in the rat ventral tegmental area.

Within the rat ventral tegmental area (VTA), the parabrachial pigmentosus and paranigral subdivisions are known to differ in their functional responses to injected neurotensin. These subdivisions also vary in their connections with other brain regions and in their number of neurotensin-containing perikarya as seen by light microscopy. In both subdivisions, there may be intracellular as well as synaptic relations between dopamine and neurotensin. Dopaminergic neurons are known to be physiologically activated by neurotensin (NT) and may also contain this peptide. To characterize further the cellular relationships in each subdivision, we examined the ultrastructural immunocytochemical localization of a rat antiserum against NT and a rabbit antiserum against the catecholamine-synthesizing enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in single sections. The NT antiserum was raised against the entire peptide sequence. Immunoblots showed that the antiserum recognized the original antigen as well as the related peptides neuromedin N and lysine 8- arginine 9- neurotensin 10-13 (LANT-6). In both the parabrachial pigmentosus and paranigral subdivisions, neurotensin-like immunoreactivity (NTLI) was localized predominantly in the large (80-100 nm) dense core vesicles using the peroxidase anti-peroxidase (PAP) method. In tissue labeled for NT by the PAP method and for TH by immunoautoradiography, serial section analysis revealed that all perikarya containing NTLI (n = 19) were also TH-positive. Three times as many perikarya colocalized NTLI and TH in the parabrachial pigmentosus subdivision (n = 15) as in the paranigral subdivision (n = 4). Occasionally, a perikaryon containing TH and NTLI could be found in direct apposition to a TH-labeled perikaryon without glial separation. In contrast to perikarya and dendrites, terminals showing NTLI (38 in parabrachial pigmentosus, 29 in paranigral) lacked detectable TH labeling. Of the terminals containing NTLI whose synaptic junctions could be identified, 48% were symmetric and 10% were asymmetric. The targets of these terminals included perikarya and dendrites lacking detectable immunoreactivity (69% in parabrachial pigmentosus, 55% in paranigral), immunolabeled for TH (26% in parabrachial pigmentosus, 38% in paranigral) or containing both NTLI and TH (5% in parabrachial pigmentosus, 7% in paranigral). Single terminals containing NTLI sometimes contacted more than one neuronal target, some of which were apposed to each other without glial separation. TH-labeled terminals synapsed onto double-labeled perikarya in the paranigral subdivision, but were not observed to do so in the parabrachial pigmentosus subdivision.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Direct evidence for nuclear and cytoplasmic colocalization of proteasomes (multiprotease complexes) in liver.

Subcellular localization of the large multicatalytic protease complexes called proteasomes, which have been found in soluble fractions of various cells, was examined by biochemical, immunological, and immunohistological methods. Rat liver nuclei, purified by two different procedures, showed high activities for degrading [3H]methylcasein and various fluorogenic oligopeptides with neutral and weakly alkaline pH optima. On gel filtration, all of these peptidase activities were recovered in a single peak with the unusually large molecular weight of about 600,000. Properties of the proteolytic activity in crude extracts of the nucleus and the cytoplasm were very similar. Immunoelectrophoretic blot analysis showed the presence of appreciable concentrations of proteasomes with similar immunoreactivity in isolated nuclear and cytosolic fractions. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining of human liver showed that proteasomes were predominantly localized in the nuclear matrix but also were present diffusely in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. These findings indicate the nuclear and cytoplasmic colocalization of proteasomes.

Animals

Characterization of the distribution of G alpha o in rat striatal synaptosomes and its colocalization with tyrosine hydroxylase.

Dopaminergic striatal synaptosomes can be detected and isolated with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). In the present study, two antigens were detected simultaneously with primary antisera raised in different species and species-specific fluorescent secondary antibodies with different emission spectra. Double-label FACS analysis was used to determine whether tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the alpha subunit of Go (G alpha o) are colocalized in striatal synaptosomes. Rabbit antibodies generated against a synthetic fragment of G alpha o (corresponding to amino acids 22-35) combined with fluorescein-conjugated secondary antibodies were used to detect G alpha o-containing striatal synaptosomes. Preadsorption of G alpha o antiserum with the synthetic peptide antigen reduced labeling to the level obtained with preimmune serum. Approximately 65-75% of striatal synaptosomes were specifically labeled by G alpha o antiserum. Tyrosine hydroxylase-containing synaptosomes were detected with a mouse monoclonal antibody to TH and R-phycoerythrin-conjugated secondary antibody. They comprised 15-17% of total striatal synaptosomes. Double-label studies indicated that at least 50% of TH-containing synaptosomes also contained G alpha o. These findings suggest that G alpha o may not be a protein component of all striatal nerve terminals, and provide a basis for a role for G alpha o in signal transduction within subpopulations of intrinsic and afferent nerve terminals, including those of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons.

Animals

An atlas of glycine- and GABA-like immunoreactivity and colocalization in the cochlear nuclear complex of the guinea pig.

The distribution and colocalization of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- and glycine-like immunoreactivity in the cochlear nuclear complex of the guinea pig have been studied to produce a light microscopic atlas. The method used was based on post-embedding immunocytochemistry in pairs of 0.5-micron-thick plastic sections treated with polyclonal antibodies against conjugated GABA and glycine respectively. Immunoreactive cells, presumably short axon neurones, predominated in the dorsal cochlear nucleus, with mostly single-GABA-labelled cells in the superficial layer, double-labelled in the middle, and single-glycine-labelled in the deep layers. A few large single-glycine-labelled cells, interpreted as commissural neurons, occurred in the ventral nucleus. Scattered double-labelled cells, probably Golgi cells, were seen in the granule cell domain. Immunolabeled puncta of all three staining categories occurred in large numbers throughout the complex, apposed to somata and in the neuropil, showing a differential distribution onto different types of neuron. Three immunolabeled tracts were noted: the tuberculoventral tract, the commissural acoustic stria, and the trapezoidal descending fibres. Most of the fibres in these tracts were single-labelled for glycine, although in the last mentioned tract single-GABA- and double-labelled fibres were also found. Some of the immunolabeled cell types described here are proposed as the origins of the similarly labelled puncta and fibres on the basis of known intrinsic connections.

Animals

Intragranular colocalization of arginine vasopressin and methionine-enkephalin-octapeptide in CRF-axons in the rat median eminence.

Ultrastructural appearances of axonal terminals containing corticoliberin (CRF) were examined in the rat median eminence prepared by a freeze-drying procedure. Immunolabeling was performed by using 5-, 8-, or 15-nm gold-antibody complexes for CRF, arginine vasopressin (VP) and methionine-enkephalin-octapeptide (Enk-8), singly or in combination. In intact animals, the CRF-containing secretory granules were only slightly labeled with gold-anti-VP or -Enk-8. In adrenalectomized rats, granules within single axons appeared to be labeled with all the immunogold complexes. This intragranular colocalization of the three antigens was confirmed by using three neighboring sections of the same axon terminals which were stained separately with each one of the antibodies and visualized with the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. The granules labeled for CRF had decreased 9 days after adrenalectomy but had increased again by day 21, while those labeled for VP steadily increased after adrenalectomy. However, this did not correspond with the appearances of cell bodies in the paraventricular nucleus; the cell bodies labeled for both CRF and VP steadily increased in number and in stainability. By contrast, Enk-8 immunoreactivity in the axonal terminals and cell bodies was not affected by adrenalectomy. These findings suggest that although the three peptides could be released simultaneously from the axonal terminals, VP may play some special role in the expression of CRF activity.

Adrenalectomy

Ultrastructural colocalization of the bioactive mediators 5-hydroxytryptamine and bombesin in endocrine cells of human fetal airways.

Endocrine cells in the airway epithelium of human fetal lungs are known to contain an amine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT), and a peptide, bombesin (BOM). These mediators may be involved in regulating smooth muscle and secretory activity in the airways as well as in development of the fetal lung. However, the exact endocrine cell type that contains 5HT and BOM has not been described at the ultrastructural level. This investigation provides immunocytochemical evidence that 5HT and BOM are stored in a single cell type, the P1 cell. Thin sections of airways from human fetal lungs were incubated either in anti-5HT antiserum (diluted 1:3000) or in anti-BOM antiserum (diluted 1:600) and then labeled with affinity purified goat anti-rabbit IgG coupled to 16 nm gold particles. For colocalization, thin sections were incubated on one side to demonstrate 5HT and on the other side to demonstrate BOM. Two different sizes of gold particles (10 and 30 nm) were coupled to IgGs and used for the labeled second antibodies. Controls consisted of absorbing of the primary antiserum with an excess of either 5HT or BOM. 5HT- and BOM -like immunoreactivities were observed in the dense-core vesicles (DCV) of P1 cells, and it was apparent from serial sections that 5HT and BOM labeling was sometimes present in the same P1 cells. Sections labeled for 5HT on one side with large gold particles and for BOM on the other side with small gold particles revealed that 5HT- and BOM-like immunoreactivities were located in the same DCV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bombesin

Colocalization of glucagon-like peptide and glucagon immunoreactivities in pancreatic islets and intestine of salmonids.

Pancreatic islets of salmon contain at least two peptides of the glucagon family: 29-amino acid glucagon and 31-amino acid glucagon-like peptide (GLP). Both peptides were recently isolated from the pancreatic islets of coho salmon and sequenced (Plisetskaya et al. 1986). Antibodies generated against these two peptides and against human glucagon were used as immunocytochemical probes to investigate whether glucagon and GLP are processed in the same, or in different cell types in the pancreatic islets and the gut of salmon. Two salmonid species, rainbow trout and coho salmon, were studied. All islet A-cells in the two species were immunoreactive toward both anti-salmon (s)-glucagon and anti-s-GLP. Similar colocalization of glucagon and GLP immunoreactivites was found in open-type endocrine cells in mucosae of the small intestine (including the pyloric coecae) and the large intestine close to the vent of rainbow trout. None of the antibodies stained mucosal cells of the body of the stomach. These results suggest that in the pancreas and the gut of salmonid fish the same cells produce both glucagon and GLP. These peptides are most likely the products of a single gene coding for the preproglucagon sequence.

Animals

Distribution of MAP2 in dendritic spines and its colocalization with actin. An immunogold electron-microscope study.

The distribution of MAP2 and actin in dendritic spines of the visual and cerebellar cortices, dentate fascia, and hippocampus was determined by using immunogold electron microscopy. By this approach, we have confirmed the presence of MAP2 in dendritic spines and identified substructures within the spine compartment showing MAP2 immunoreactivity. MAP2 immunolabeling was mainly associated associated with filaments which reacted with a monoclonal anti-actin antibody. Also, by immunogold double-labeling we colocalized MAP2 with actin on the endomembranes of the spine apparatus, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and in the postsynaptic density. Labeling was nearly absent in axons and axonal terminals. These results indicate that MAP2 is an actin-associated protein in dendritic spines. Thus, MAP2 may organize actin filaments in the spine and endow the actin network of the spine with dynamic properties that are necessary for synaptic plasticity.

Actins

Tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive neurons in the olfactory bulb of the snake, Elaphe quadrivirgata, with special reference to the colocalization of tyrosine hydroxylase- and GABA-like immunoreactivities.

The distribution and structural features of tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive (TH-LI) neurons were studied in the olfactory bulb of a snake, Elaphe quadrivirgata, by using pre- and post-embedding immunocytochemistry at the light microscopic level. In contrast to rodent olfactory bulbs previously reported, many TH-LI neurons were seen not only in the main olfactory bulb (MOB) but also in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). With regard to the TH-like immunoreactivity, there appeared no appreciable differences between MOB and AOB. As in mammalian MOB, the majority of TH-LI neurons were clustered in the periglomerular region and appeared to send their dendritic branches into glomeruli, which as a whole make an intense TH-LI band in the glomerular layer (GML). In the external plexiform/mitral cell layer (EPL/ML) of MOB and AOB as well as in the outer sublamina of the internal plexiform layer (OSL) of AOB, an appreciable number of TH-LI neurons were scattered, extending dendritic processes which appeared to make a loose meshwork. TH-LI neurons in EPL/ML (including OSL) appeared to consist of at least two morphologically different types. The first had a small perikaryon and one or two smooth dendrites which usually extended to GML and were frequently confirmed to enter into glomeruli. The second had a larger perikaryon and 2-3 dendrites which branched into several varicose processes extending in EPL/ML/OSL but appeared not to enter into glomeruli. The TH-like immunoreactivity was rarely seen in the internal plexiform layer and internal granule cell layer. The colocalization of GABA-like and TH-like immunoreactivities was further studied. Almost all TH-LI neurons in both EPL/ML/OSL and GML contained GABA-like immunoreactivity irrespectively of the type of TH-LI cells.

Animals

Immunocytochemical evidence suggests that taurine is colocalized with GABA in the Purkinje cell terminals, but that the stellate cell terminals predominantly contain GABA: a light- and electronmicroscopic study of the rat cerebellum.

The distributions of taurine-like and GABA-like immunoreactivities in the rat cerebellum were compared by analysis of consecutive semithin and ultrathin sections, postembedding labeled with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique or with an indirect immunogold procedure, respectively. Taurine-like immunoreactivity was selectively enriched in Purkinje cell bodies, dendrites and spines, and boutons in the cerebellar nuclei exhibiting ultrastructural features typical of Purkinje cell terminals. The stellate and basket cell bodies and terminals were very weakly labeled. A computer assisted quantitative assessment of the net immunogold labeling revealed that the mean gold particle density in the Purkinje cell terminals was about 70% higher than that in the Purkinje cell dendrites, and about 14 times higher than that in the stellate/basket cell terminals in the molecular layer. Stellate, basket and Purkinje cell terminals emerged as intensely immunoreactive in adjacent sections processed with an antiserum against conjugated GABA. These findings indicate, contrary to recent electrophysiological data, that GABA is a more likely transmitter candidate than taurine in the stellate cells. The apparent colocalization of GABA and taurine in the terminals of Purkinje cells raises the possibility that these terminals are capable of releasing two different inhibitory amino acids.

Animals