Intrinsic connections of rat primary visual cortex: laminar organization of axonal projections

The organization of local projections within the rat primary visual cortex (area 17) was investigated by tracing fibers with HRP in in vitro brain slices. The projections from different layers showed distinct laminar patterns. Layer 4 made a strong, topographically precise, projection to lower layer 2/3; weaker projections extended laterally and terminated diffusely in layer 2/3 but also ran vertically to layers 5 and 6. The connections of lower and upper layer 2/3 were reciprocal and point-to-point. Within layer 2/3, a large number of fibers ran horizontally and terminated at variable distances from the injection site without making terminal clusters. The main output from layer 2/3 was to layer 5. The most prominent projections from the upper half of layer 5 were to layers 2/3 and 6; lower layer 5, in contrast, made wide-ranging, clustered projections to layer 1, the bottom of layer 2/3, and the top of layers 4 and 5. The patches were 130-160 micron wide and spaced apart by 230-260 micron. The main projection that arose from the superficial layer 6 terminated in layer 4 above the injection site. In contrast, lower layer 6 made clustered projections to the layer 3/4 border, extending up to 2 mm in the coronal plane. The patches were 190-220 micron wide and spaced apart by 320-390 micron. Additional projections went to the layer 5/6 border and layers 1 and 2. These results indicate that geniculocortical input is processed through interlaminar connections that are topographically precise, widespread, or patchy. These connectivity patterns suggest a role for these connections in the transformation of functional maps between layers; focused projections preserve the architecture of the layers of origin, and diverging or patchy projections rearrange this organization and form new maps in the target layers (Lund: Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 11:253-288, '88). However, only a few interlaminar connections show one of these patterns in isolation, making it difficult to assign a single function to a particular connection. We, therefore, tentatively conclude that projections terminating in layers 1-4, with the possible exception of the connection between upper layer 6 and layer 4, transform functional maps. In contrast, the topographically precise projections from upper to lower layers preserve functional maps. The specific role of these connections in the construction of receptive field properties, however, is not known.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Axonal connections of a forebrain nucleus involved with vocal learning in zebra finches

Connections of a telencephalic vocal-control nucleus, the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (lMAN), were studied in adult male zebra finches. Anterograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (alone or conjugated to wheat germ agglutinin) revealed that neurons in lMAN project to another forebrain song-control nucleus, the robust nucleus of the archistriatum (RA). RA is known to project onto the hypoglossal motor neurons that innervate the vocal organ. Retrograde transport of HRP from lMAN labeled a large thalamic nucleus, the medial portion of the dorsolateral nucleus of the thalamus (DLM). DLM in turn receives input from another nucleus of the song-control system, area X of the parolfactory lobe. We confirmed results of previous studies showing that area X receives a projection from the ventral area of Tsai (AVT) in the midbrain. In addition, we replicated results of previous experiments with canaries showing that the song-control nucleus HVc (caudal nucleus of the ventral hyperstriatum) receives input from three sources: the medial magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (mMAN), the interfacial nucleus (NIf), and the uvae-form nucleus (Uva) of the thalamus. HVc neurons project to area X and to RA. In summary, there is a path from AVT in the midbrain, to area X, to DLM, and then to lMAN; HVc projects to X and hence indirectly to lMAN. We do not yet know the afferent connections of AVT. Thus, lMAN receives indirect input from a variety of other sources, including other regions known to be involved with vocal control.

Immunohistochemical evidence for convergence of GABA-containing and glycine-containing axon terminals on single spinal motoneurons of the rat

GABA- and glycine-containing neuronal elements were visualized in the rat spinal cord by immunohistochemistry employing antisera raised against conjugated GABA and glycine. GABA- and glycine-like immunoreactivities were localized in axon terminals and neuronal perikarya. GABA- and glycine-like immunoreactive terminals were in synaptic contact with perikarya and dendrites of most spinal neurons. Single spinal motoneurons appeared to be in contact with GABA- or glycine-like immunoreactive terminals. These findings suggest that these neurons are regulated postsynaptically by both GABA and glycine.

Differential localisation of tyrosinated, detyrosinated, and acetylated alpha-tubulins in neurites and growth cones of dorsal root ganglion neurons

The comparative distribution of tyrosinated, detyrosinated, and acetylated alpha-tubulins was examined in neurites of rat dorsal root ganglion neurones in culture using immunofluorescence microscopy. Phase contrast observations of single neurones revealed that the neurites were actively motile, and rhodamine phalloidin staining of actin filaments showed the extent of lamellopodia and microspike projections from the growth cones. From double-labelling experiments using antibodies against tyrosinated, detryrosinated, or acetylated alpha-tubulin, it was found that the three different isoforms were differentially localised in neurites and growth cones. Detyrosinated and acetylated forms of alpha-tubulin were in the main restricted to the neurites extending no further than the base of the growth cones. Tyrosinated alpha-tubulin was, however, distributed throughout the body of the growth cone and into the base of some microspikes. Following treatment with taxol to promote microtubule assembly, detyrosinated and acetylated alpha-tubulins were found to be colocalised with tyrosinated alpha-tubulins throughout the growth cones of all cells examined. These results would be consistent with axonal transport of tyrosinated alpha-tubulin followed by assembly in the growth cone and subsequent detyrosination and acetylation. In addition the presence of unmodified alpha-tubulin in the growth cone may be necessary for the provision of labile microtubules for growth cone motility and extension.

Ultrastructure of calcitonin gene-related peptide- and substance P-like immunoreactive nerve fibres in the carotid body and carotid sinus of the guinea pig

Previous studies have demonstrated that substance P- (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivities (CGRP-LI) coexist in sensory nerve fibres in the guinea-pig carotid body and carotid sinus. In the present study the ultrastructure of these nerve fibres was investigated by means of single- and double-labelling immunocytochemistry. In both, carotid body and carotid sinus immunoreactive fibres were unmyelinated axons of small diameter (0.12-0.56 microns). At the subcellular level, SP- and CGRP-LI were colocalized in intra-axonal dense core vesicles, suggesting corelease and simultaneous action of these two compounds. SP/CGRP-LI nerve fibres within the carotid body were mainly found in the interparenchymal connective tissue, but also occurred in relationship to blood vessels and nests of glomus cells. Neither in the carotid body not in the carotid sinus, SP/CGRP-LI axons corresponded to the large terminals which are generally considered to represent the main chemoreceptor and baroreceptor endings, respectively. Thus, SP/CGRP-LI fibres either belong to the chemo- and baroreceptors of the C-fibre class or constitute a fibre population not directly involved in conduction of baro- and chemoreflexes.

Immunohistochemical localization of intracellular plasma proteins in the human central nervous system

The regional distribution of plasma protein immunoreactivity was studied in the postmortem central nervous system (CNS) of normal subjects 18 to 78 years old. Samples taken from various areas of brain and spinal cord were processed for peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemistry using polyclonal antibodies against plasma albumin, prealbumin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, alpha 2-macroglobulin, IgG, transferrin, haptoglobin, hemopexin, fibrinogen, as well against the glial fibrillary acidic and S-100 proteins. Many neurons of the spinal cord, cranial nerve nuclei, pontine nuclei, cerebellar dentate nucleus, red nucleus, thalamus and hypothalamus showed strong immunostaining for albumin and moderate to strong staining for alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, IgG, transferrin, haptoglobin, as well as relatively weak immunoreactivity against other plasma proteins. Less intense staining was seen in the nucleus basalis, putamen and Purkinje cells. In contrast, most cerebral cortical neurons were negative except for a few positively stained pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus and in layers III and V of the association neocortex, although more positive pyramidal neurons were observed in the motor and sensory neocortices. Reaction products were also seen in axons of motor and sensory long tracts. These findings suggest that plasma proteins may be transported to spinal cord and brain stem neurons by peripherally projecting nerves and that a series of anterograde and retrograde transneuronal transfers are responsible for the accumulation of plasma proteins in relay nuclei and in other CNS neurons.

Localization of pp60c-src in growth cone of PC12 cell

By immunocytochemical and biochemical techniques, we observed the localization and expression of pp60c-src in nerve growth factor (NGF)-treated PC12 cells. Immunostaining of pp60c-src is detected in the neuronal soma and the tips of neurites (growth cones). Immunofluorescence in the neurites is less significant. High-resolution microscopy reveals that the location of pp60c-src in growth cone is in good agreement with the adhesive site of growth cone to the substratum. The pp60c-src kinase activity and the pp60c-src protein level increase 3.1- to 3.5-fold and 2.0-fold during differentiation of PC12 cells, respectively. The pp60c-src levels in the neurite fraction are also higher than those in the neuronal soma fraction. These results support the immunocytochemical finding that pp60c-src is localized in growth cones of differentiated PC12 cells. Furthermore, we discuss the possible role of pp60c-src in growth cone.

Subcellular localization of functionally differentiated microtubules in squid neurons: regional distribution of microtubule-associated proteins and beta-tubulin isotypes

The subcellular localization of microtubule proteins in the neurons of squid (Doryteuthis bleekeri) was immunologically studied using monoclonal antibodies against the microtubule proteins. We found that (1) the squid neurons contained three kinds of high-molecular-weight microtubule-associated proteins [MAP A of approximately 300 kilodaltons (kD), MAP B of 260 kD, and axolinin of 260 kD] and two kinds of beta-tubulin isotypes (beta 1 and beta 2); (2) the cell body of the squid giant neuron contained MAP A, MAP B, and the two beta-tubulin isotypes (beta 1 and beta 2); (3) axolinin and the beta 1 isotype were present exclusively in the peripheral axoplasm of the giant axon; and (4) a small amount of axolinin, MAP A, and the beta 1 isotype was found in the insoluble aspect of the central axoplasm, whereas the soluble aspect of the central axoplasm contained an abundant amount of MAP A along with the modified form of the beta 1 isotype. The regional difference of the distribution of the microtubule protein components may explain the differences in stability among axonal microtubules. Microtubules in the soluble aspect of the central axoplasm are sensitive to any treatment with colchicine, cold temperature, and high ionic strength but those both in the insoluble aspect of the central axoplasm and in the peripheral axoplasm are highly insensitive to the treatment.

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analysis of axonal regrowth and myelination in membranes which form over lesion sites in the rat visual system

Glial-connective tissue membranes which form bridges over lesion cavities in the brachial and pretectal region of the rat visual system contain regenerated myelinated and unmyelinated axons. The lesions were made between 10 and 16 days postnatal--a time at which neonatal regeneration would not be expected. A detailed ultrastructural study of these membrane bridges has been undertaken in order to describe the cellular and extracellular conditions that are associated with the regeneration, myelination and continued survival of identified retinal and other axons. The lesion-induced membrane bridges possessed a limiting surface of fibroblasts and were composed of glial cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, pericytes and collagen. There was some variability in the ultrastructural appearance of the glial cells; the majority of criteria indicate that they were astrocytes. These astrocytes formed 'glia limitans'-like surfaces beneath the fibroblasts. They contained numerous filaments and extended fine, electron-dense cytoplasmic processes, often arranged into lamellated stacks. Basal lamina was present on the outer surfaces of the astrocytes. Astrocytic processes isolated clusters of myelinated and unmyelinated axons in lacunae which may have served as conduits for axonal elongation. This suggests a role for these astrocytes in the regeneration and maintenance process which appears to recapitulate events which occur during normal development. Interestingly, regrowing retinal axons were never found adjacent to astrocytic surfaces possessing a basal lamina. We did not detect evidence of Schwann cell invasion into the lesion. By ultrastructural criteria the myelin ensheathment which occurred on the larger axons in the membrane bridge was of central rather than peripheral type. The cytoplasmic domain external to the sheath was limited to a small tongue; no basal lamina invested the fibre; and the periodicity of the myelin was equivalent to that of other CNS structures. Similarly, the CNS character of the myelin was demonstrated by intense immunostaining of myelin sheaths for myelin basic protein and proteolipid [corrected] protein and lack of staining for the PNS component PO. The oligodendrocytes responsible for this myelination may either have extended cytoplasmic processes from the adjacent neuropil, or may have differentiated from precursor cells within the membrane bridge.

Regenerated optic fibers in goldfish reestablish a crude sectoral order in the visual pathway

The goldfish optic pathway is regenerated after an optic nerve crush. We have examined the axonal topography of the regenerated pathway by labeling, with horseradish peroxidase (HRP), axons originating from retinal sectors or annuli. The positions of the labeled axons in the cross section of the pathway were compared to the normal and related to the factors that may influence axonal pathfinding. The positions of retinal axons in the cross section of the normal pathway are predictable from the retinal addresses of the ganglion cells described by the polar coordinates r (the distance from the optic disc) and theta (the sectoral or clockface position). The two coordinates map orthogonally onto the cross section of the pathway; r varies monotonically along one axis; theta varies along a perpendicular axis. The normal r-order, present in the nonregenerated stump of the experimental nerve, was severely degraded and perhaps lost entirely in the regenerated optic nerve, tract, and brachia. Sectoral order was also lost as the axons passed the crush site, but it was reestablished, albeit crudely, in the regenerated tract and brachia where axons tended to occupy positions appropriate to their dorsal, ventral, nasal, and temporal retinal origins. The exit sequence of the regenerated axons from the stratum opticum into the tectal neuropil was normal: temporal first, nasal last. These results suggest that the regenerating fibers followed some theta-specific cue located in the nonaxonal environment. It seems likely that the original axons probably followed the same cue. In contrast, the absence of r-order suggests that there is no r-specific cue for the regenerates to follow. It seems likely that the original r-order was a consequence of nonspecific influences--the orderly spatiotemporal growth of the retina and the existence of a permissive region for axonal growth.

Divergent projections of physiologically characterized rat ventral cochlear nucleus neurons as shown by intra-axonal injection of horseradish peroxidase

An attempt was made to correlate electrophysiological and morphological characteristics of rat ventral cochlear nucleus neurons. Their axonal course and their soma morphology were investigated using the intra-axonal horseradish peroxidase method. Prior to labeling, neurons were characterized by recording their response patterns to acoustic stimulation with pure tones. Three types of cells were found: Category I (37 neurons) exhibited "primarylike" responses and a spontaneous firing rate below 10 spikes/s. Category II (21 neurons) showed "on" responses and little spontaneous activity. Category III (9 neurons) had "primarylike" responses like neurons in category I. However, the spontaneous activity rate of these neurons was significantly higher (mean: 95 spikes/s). Among the response categories, the morphological characteristics differed in some prominent aspects. Within each category, however, the morphological properties were rather similar. All neurons in category I were globular/bushy cells located in the area of the entrance of the cochlear nerve. The axon of each cell coursed along the ventral acoustic stria and consistently innervated the lateral superior olive ipsilaterally, and the nucleus of the trapezoid body and the nucleus of the lateral lemniscus contralaterally. Some neurons also projected to periolivary nuclei ipsilaterally and contralaterally. Neurons in category II were located in the posteroventral cochlear nucleus and were presumably multipolar/stellate cells. Their axons coursed via the intermediate acoustic stria and innervated mainly contralateral periolivary regions as well as the contralateral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus. Ipsilaterally, the lateral superior olive and the superior periolivary nucleus were innervated by some of the category II neurons. Somata types of neurons in category III could not be identified morphologically, but somata were located in caudal parts of the posteroventral cochlear nucleus that correspond to the octopus cell area. Their axons coursed via the intermediate acoustic stria and innervated periolivary regions and the contralateral nucleus of the lateral lemniscus. Thus, their axonal distribution differed only slightly from neurons in category II. These data confirm and extend previous findings regarding the efferent connections of ventral cochlear neurons. They emphasize the complexity of the axonal projection patterns of single cochlear nucleus cells. Since two types of response patterns and three types of axonal projection patterns have been observed, there remains an ambiguous relation between response pattern and axonal projection site.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Branching axons from subcoeruleus area project to the nucleus raphe pontis and hypothalamic zona incerta, as studied with the double fluorescent retrograde tracing technique

In this study we utilized a double retrograde axonal tracing technique to investigate the possible existence of collateralized axonal projections of subcoeruleus area neurons to both raphe pontis nucleus and hypothalamic zona incerta. Following microinjections of fluorescent tracers (Fast blue (FB) and Diamidino yellow (DY] within raphe pontis and zone incerta, substantial numbers of double-labeled branched neurons have been found within the subcoeruleus area.

Regional heterogeneity in the distal motor axon: three zones with distinctive intrinsic components

In this study we examined the distribution of cytoskeletal and other intrinsic axonal elements in motor nerve terminals in vivo. Components of axons were visualized with immunocytochemical staining of frozen longitudinal sections of muscle. Using these methods we compared the distribution of neurofilaments, tubulin, MAP2, actin and synaptic elements in distal regions of axons at and near neuromuscular junctions in rat muscles. Our results show that three discrete regions can be defined based on the anatomy and intrinsic components of distal axons. The preterminal axon, extending from its exit from the intramuscular nerve toward the neuromuscular junction, has a cytoskeletal composition similar to the more proximal axon with abundant staining of neurofilaments, tubulin, MAP2 and actin. The terminal arborization, a branched region of the axon extending through the endplate region, contains neurofilaments but little tubulin, actin, MAP2 or synaptic elements. Finally, the synaptic zone, demonstrated with antibodies to the synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin, contains few cytoskeletal elements. We conclude that there is considerable regional heterogeneity in the composition of distal motor axons. The distribution of neurofilaments, other cytoskeletal elements and synaptic vesicle proteins varies among different discrete zones of terminal motor axons.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone-like immunoreactive neurons in rabbit medulla oblongata

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone-like immunoreactive (TRH-LI) neuronal cell bodies and processes were identified by using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method in the medullar oblongata of rabbits. TRH-LI cell bodies were mainly distributed in the ventral medulla (paraolivary and parapyramidal regions), and caudal raphe nuclei (nucleus raphe obscurus and nucleus raphe pallidus). TRH-LI processes with varicosities were densely distributed in the solitary nucleus, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve and area postrema. TRH-LI processes appeared to be in contact with unlabelled cell bodies in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve.

The innervation of the renal cortex in the dog. An ultrastructural study

Two cytochemical techniques were used at the ultrastructural level to study the distribution of specific axon types to different intrarenal structures in the dog. Using the chromaffin reaction to distinguish catecholaminergic fibres from other axon populations, it was found that the renal cortex of the dog is supplied only by catecholaminergic nerves. Immunostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) labelled all of the intracortical nerves, and 20% to 25% of these profiles also contained dopa decarboxylase (DDC)-immunoreactivity, indicating they were dopaminergic rather than noradrenergic. Both DDC-positive and DDC-negative axons were seen in close association (approximately 80 nm) with blood vessels and juxtaglomerular cells as well as tubular epithelial cells. The distribution of TH- and DDC-immunoreactive nerves in the renal cortex is compatible with existing functional evidence indicating that both dopaminergic and noradrenergic nerves are involved in the regulation of renal blood flow, tubular reabsorption and renin release.

Isolation and initial characterization of myelin-like membrane fractions from the nerve cord of earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris L)

We report here the isolation of fractions enriched in components of the myelin-like membranes surrounding the giant axons of the earthworm. Lumbricus terrestris L. The composition and purity of the fractions have been assessed using SDS-protein electrophoresis, Western immunoblots, and electron microscopy. Preliminary enzyme assays indicated that the mitochondrial marker, succinate dehydrogenase, has a similar specific activity distribution in earthworm nerve cord and in mouse liver sedimentation velocity fractions, however, the distribution of the total units of activity among the fractions seems to indicate the existence of smaller mitochondria in earthworm nerve cord compared with mouse liver mitochondria. In earthworm nerve cord fractions, Na+/K+ ATPase and Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase were found to be enriched exclusively in the fraction containing large plasma and myelin-like membranes, while in the mouse liver fractions, the total units of these two enzymes were found to be distributed broadly among fractions. 5'-Nucleotidase activity in the earthworm nerve cord seemed to be restricted to the microsomal fractions (endomembrane network), with a very low activity associated with the large plasma and myelin-like membrane fraction. We have established the presence of keratins or prekeratins in the myelin-like membranes, probably in the form of tonofilaments. However, we could not show that the desmosome-like structures, characteristic of these membranes, are composed of those proteins described for vertebrate epithelial desmosomes.

Differential sensitivity of the microtubule-associated protein, tau, in Alzheimer's disease tissue to formalin fixation

Immunohistochemistry of formalin-fixed human Alzheimer's disease (AD) tissue using an anti-tau antibody (Tau-1) reveals staining of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and neuritic plaques (NPs), whereas normal axonal staining is less apparent. In this study, we used a combined biochemical and histochemical approach to assess effects of formalin on immunoreactivity of AD tau. Nitrocellulose blots were treated with fixative to mimic conditions used with tissue sections, a method that might be generally useful for assessing antigen sensitivity to different fixatives. A progressive decrease in Tau-1 immunoreactivity of the tau bands on a Western blot was observed with increasing times of formalin fixation. Phosphatase-digested blots demonstrated an increase in Tau-1 immunoreactivity compared to control blots. These results mimic the phosphatase-sensitive Tau-1 immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed AD tissue slices previously reported. Fixation of AD tissue with periodate-lysine-paraformaldehyde (PLP) preserves axonal tau antigenicity. Phosphatase digestion of PLP-fixed AD tissue enhances Tau-1 immunoreactivity of NFTs and NPs but does not alter axonal staining. These results indicate that axonal form(s) of tau are more sensitive to formalin fixation than pathology-associated tau. In addition, a modification of AD tau in pathological structures may protect it from the effects of formalin with regard to Tau-1 antigenicity.

Distribution of the myelin-associated glycoprotein and P0 protein during myelin compaction in quaking mouse peripheral nerve

Ultrastructural studies have shown that during early stages of Schwann cell myelination mesaxon membranes are converted to compact myelin lamellae. The distinct changes that occur in the spacing of these Schwann cell membranes are likely to be mediated by the redistribution of (a) the myelin-associated glycoprotein, a major structural protein of mesaxon membranes; and (b) P0 protein, the major structural protein of compact myelin. To test this hypothesis, the immunocytochemical distribution of these two proteins was determined in serial 1-micron-thick Epon sections of ventral roots from quaking mice and compared to the ultrastructure of identical areas in an adjacent thin section. Ventral roots of this hypomyelinating mouse mutant were studied because many fibers have a deficit in converting mesaxon membranes to compact myelin. The results indicated that conversion of mesaxon membranes to compact myelin involves the insertion of P0 protein into and the removal of the myelin-associated glycoprotein from mesaxon membranes. The failure of some quaking mouse Schwann cells to form compact myelin appears to result from an inability to remove the myelin-associated glycoprotein from their mesaxon membranes.

Quantitative assessment of taurine-like immunoreactivity in different cell types and processes in rat cerebellum: an electronmicroscopic study based on a postembedding immunogold labelling procedure

Ultrathin sections of plastic-embedded rat cerebella were incubated with an antiserum against conjugated taurine and subsequently treated with a secondary antibody coupled to colloidal gold. The density of gold particles in various cellular profiles was calculated with the assistance of a computer. In the cerebellar cortex the highest density was found in the somata, dendrites, and dendritic spines of the Purkinje cells, supporting parallel light-microscopical observations in postembedding stained semithin sections from the same tissue blocks. The remaining profiles could be divided into three groups according to their immunolabelling intensity, in descending order: 1) somata and processes of granule and Golgi cells; 2) somata and processes of stellate, basket, and glial cells, and 3) mossy fiber terminals. In a representative experiment, the structures in the first and second groups showed gold particle densities in the range of 19-25%, and 4-11%, respectively, of that in the Purkinje cell somata (values corrected for background) whereas the particle density in the mossy fiber terminals was not significantly above background level. In the cerebellar nuclei, taurine-like immunoreactivity was concentrated in terminals that typically established symmetric or intermediate type contacts with weakly labelled dendrites and cell bodies. These terminals, which shared the ultrastructural features of Purkinje cell terminals, showed an average gold particle density that was about 60% higher than that of the Purkinje somata. For specificity control, ultrathin sections containing a series of different amino acid conjugates were incubated in the same drops of sera as the tissue sections. The highly selective labelling of the taurine conjugate indicated that the distribution of gold particles in the tissue was not confounded by crossreactivity with GABA, glutamate or other common amino acids but adequately reflected the distribution of fixed taurine. For additional control of specificity, the taurine antiserum was applied to the soluble fraction of a rat brain extract separated by thin layer chromatography. In this system the taurine antiserum stained a single spot that comigrated with free taurine. The present results suggest that all cell types and processes in the rat cerebellum (with the exception of the mossy fiber terminals) contain taurine. However, the concentration of taurine appears to vary considerably among the different cell types and may also differ between different parts of the same neuron.

Two classes of actin microfilaments are associated with the inner cytoskeleton of axons

The distribution and length of actin microfilaments (MF) was determined in axoplasm extruded from the giant axons of the squid (Loligo pealeii). Extruded axoplasm that was separated from the axonal cortex contains approximately 92% of the total axonal actin, and 60% of this actin is polymerized (Morris, J., and R. Lasek. 1984. J. Cell Biol. 98:2064-2076). Localization of MF with rhodamine-phalloidin indicated that the MF were organized in fine columns oriented longitudinally within the axoplasm. In the electron microscope, MF were surrounded by a dense matrix and they were associated with the microtubule domains of the axoplasm. The surrounding matrix tended to obscure the MF which may explain why MF have rarely been recognized before in the inner regions of the axon. The axoplasmic MF are relatively short (number average length of 0.55 micron). Length measurements of MF prepared either in the presence or absence of the actin-filament stabilizing drug phalloidin indicate that axoplasm contains two populations of MF: stable MF (number average length of 0.79 micron) and metastable MF (number average length of 0.41 micron). Although individual axonal MF are much shorter than axonal microtubules, the combined length of the total MF is twice that of the total microtubules. Apparently, these numerous short MF have an important structural role in the architecture of the inner axonal cytoskeleton.

Differential distribution of beta-tubulin isotypes in cerebellum

We describe the structure and expression of a mammalian beta-tubulin isotype (M beta 6) that is weakly expressed in testis but is abundant in developing brain, with transcripts declining to lower levels in the adult brain. The expression of M beta 6 was undetectable in any other mouse tissue examined. A serum specific for this isotype was prepared using a cloned fusion protein as immunogen. M beta 6 is one of five known beta-tubulin isotypes expressed in brain, and using the anti-M beta 6 serum along with sera, anti-M beta 2, anti-M beta 3/4 and anti-M beta 5, previously characterized, we have examined the pattern of expression of beta-tubulin isotypes in rat cerebellum. The isotypes each have characteristic cell-type specific patterns of localization in cerebellum. M beta 2, M beta 3/4 and M beta 5 are present in both neuronal and non-neuronal cells, but in contrast M beta 6 was only detectable in neurons in tissue sections and in dissociated cerebellar cell culture. The majority of sequence differences among the beta-tubulin isotypes lie at the carboxy terminus, the region of beta-tubulin involved in MAP binding. In the case of M beta 2 and M beta 6, the patterns of expression are similar or identical to the patterns of expression of MAP3 and MAP1A respectively. These results suggest that beta-tubulin isotypes may contribute to the determination of the specific association of MAPs with microtubules of diverse function. However, the strict subcellular segregation of other MAPs in brain may be determined by other factors.

Processing of neurofilament proteins from perikaryal to axonal type

In previous studies, neuronal cell bodies, excised by hand from bovine spinal ganglia, were analyzed and heterogeneous intermediate and high molecular weight neurofilament proteins that differed in electrophoretic mobility from their axonal counterparts were demonstrated. In the present experiment, intermediate and high molecular weight neurofilament proteins of the axonal type were treated with alkaline phosphatase, and neurofilament proteins enriched in perikaryal type proteins were labeled with 32P. Results showed that neurofilament proteins were phosphorylated after their translation, in the perikarya and the proximal portion of the axon, and suggested that phosphorylation was responsible for the differences between axonal and perikaryal neurofilament proteins.

Tracing of neuronal connections with cholera toxin subunit B: light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies

Subunit B of cholera toxin was used as a tracer substance in the central nervous system after being injected into various brain regions, mainly somatosensory relay structures. The tracer was localized with an immunoperoxidase technique, using monoclonal antibodies raised in mouse hybridomas. This method, which is applicable in both light and electron microscopic studies, is characterized by high contrast between specific labeling and unspecific background activity. It yields excellent retrograde labeling of the dendritic tree and is thus suitable for studying the neuronal cytoarchitecture and, on the ultrastructural level, the synaptic organization of identified projection neurons.

c-src gene product in developing rat brain is enriched in nerve growth cone membranes

Differentiating rat neurons express high levels of the protooncogene product pp60c-src, a 60-kDa tyrosine kinase of unknown function encoded by c-src. pp60c-src was found to be concentrated at least 9-fold in membranes from a subcellular fraction of nerve growth cones, the motile tips of outgrowing neuronal processes. Indirect immunofluorescence staining of cultured chick retinal explants showed pp60c-src in neuronal growth cones and processes, with the antigen particularly concentrated in growth cones of long neurites. pp60c-src in growth cone membranes was an active tyrosine-specific protein kinase with elevated tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity and reduced electrophoretic mobility characteristic of the form of pp60c-src in central nervous system neurons. pp60c-src was present at lower levels in subcellular fractions from mature rat brain but synaptosomal membranes were not enriched. Preferential localization of an active form of pp60c-src in nerve growth cone membranes and persistence of pp60c-src in mature neurons suggest that this tyrosine kinase is important in growth cone-mediated neurite extension and synaptic plasticity.

Correspondence between 5-HT2 receptors and serotonergic axons in rat neocortex

The anatomic relationship between serotonergic (5-HT) axons and 5-HT2 receptors in the rat forebrain was determined by a combined analysis of transmitter immunocytochemistry and receptor autoradiography. High densities of 5-HT2 receptors, localized by the ligand N1-methyl-2-125I-LSD (125I-MIL), are found in neocortex and striatum; these regions also receive a dense serotonergic innervation. Regional variations in the density of 5-HT2 receptors and 5-HT axons correspond closely in most, but not all, areas of the forebrain. In somatosensory cortex (SI), the laminar distribution of 5-HT2 receptors closely matches that of 5-HT axons: in particular, a dense band of 5-HT2 receptors in layer Va of SI is in precise register with a dense plexus of fine 5-HT axons. We have also observed a close spatial relationship between 5-HT2 receptors and fine axons in other areas of the forebrain, suggesting that 5-HT2 receptors may be selectively linked to a particular type of 5-HT axon terminal. Since fine axons of this type have been reported to arise from the dorsal raphe nucleus, it appears likely that 5-HT2 receptors may mediate the effects of dorsal but not median raphe projections.