Mitochondrial HSP60 Protein in Rat Medulla Oblongata Cells

Abstract

HSP60 is a member of the heat shock protein (HSP) group and is located predominantly in cell mitochondria. Dysfunction and insufficient synthesis of HSP60 in the nervous system leads to neurodegeneration. The aim of the present work was to conduct immunohistochemical determination of the location of HSP60 protein in neurons and gliocytes in the medulla oblongata in rats. Studies were performed on mature male Wistar rats weighing 200–250 g (n = 7). The results provided evidence that HSP60 has a discrete localization in cytoplasmic structures in neurons and gliocytes. In large neurons, local accumulation of HSP60 allows fine structures to be detected, probably mitochondria. An important observation is that of the absence of any cytosolic reaction in medulla oblongata neurons and gliocytes. This provides grounds for using the reaction for HSP60 in complex studies of apoptosis in nerve cells, as this is associated with an accumulation of HSP60 and displacement of immunopositive product to the plasmalemma.