Axonal and transneuronal transport of wheat germ agglutinin demonstrated by immunocytochemistry

Abstract

Immunocytochemical methods at the light and electron microscopic level were used to examine the anterograde and retrograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin. Following anterograde transport to sensory nerve terminals in the central nervous system, wheat germ agglutinin can be localized to neuronal cell bodies in the area of terminal labeling. The transneuronal transport of wheat germ agglutinin demonstrates the existence of a mechanism whereby axonally transported glycomacromolecules might exert neurotrophic effects on postsynaptic cells.