Plasma Membranes Of Perikarya Research Articles

Subcellular Redistribution of m2 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Striatal InterneuronsIn Vivoafter Acute Cholinergic Stimulation

The purpose of our work was to investigate how the cholinergic environment influences the targeting and the intracellular trafficking of the muscarinic receptor m2 (m2R) in vivo. To address this question, we have used immunohistochemical approaches at light and electron microscopic levels to detect the m2R in control rats and rats treated with muscarinic receptor agonists. In control animals, m2Rs were located mostly at postsynaptic sites at the plasma membrane of perikarya and dendrites of cholinergic and NPY-somatostatin interneurons as autoreceptors and heteroreceptors, respectively. Presynaptic receptors were also detected in boutons. The m2Rs were usually detected at extrasynaptic sites, but they could be found rarely in association with symmetrical synapses, suggesting that the cholinergic transmission mediated by m2R occurs via synaptic and nonsynaptic mechanisms. The stimulation of muscarinic receptors with oxotremorine provoked a dramatic alteration of m2R compartmentalization, including endocytosis with a decrease of the density of m2R at the membrane (-63%) and an increase of those associated with endosomes (+86%) in perikarya. The very strong increase of m2R associated with multivesicular bodies (+732%) suggests that oxotremorine activated degradation. The slight increase in the Golgi apparatus (+26%) suggests that the m2R stimulation had an effect on the maturation of m2R. The substance P receptor located at the membrane of the same neurons was unaffected by oxotremorine. Our data demonstrate that cholinergic stimulation dramatically influences the subcellular distribution of m2R in striatal interneurons in vivo. These events may have key roles in controlling abundance and availability of muscarinic receptors via regulation of receptor endocytosis, degradation, and/or neosynthesis. Further, the control of muscarinic receptor trafficking may influence the activity of striatal interneurons, including neurotransmitter release and/or electric activity.

Cellular, Subcellular, and Subsynaptic Distribution of AMPA-Type Glutamate Receptor Subunits in the Neostriatum of the Rat

Glutamate released in the basal ganglia is involved in the expression of clinical symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's or Huntington's. Neostriatal neurons are the targets of glutamatergic inputs derived from the cortex and the thalamus acting via AMPA-type as well as other glutamate receptors. To determine the location of subunits of the AMPA subclass of glutamate receptors (GluR) in the rat neostriatum, we applied multiple immunocytochemical techniques using anti-peptide antibodies against the GluR1, GluR2/3, and GluR4 subunits at both the light and electron microscopic levels. All medium spiny efferent neurons, some of which were identified as striatonigral neurons, displayed immunoreactivity for GluR1 and GluR2/3 subunits. Double immunofluorescence revealed that at least 70-90% of parvalbumin-immunopositive GABAergic interneurons were immunoreactive for each of GluR1, GluR2/3, or GluR4 subunits and that at least 40% of choline acetyltransferase-immunopositive cholinergic interneurons were immunopositive for GluR1 or GluR4 subunits. The majority of nitric oxide synthase-immunopositive neurons had no detectable immunoreactivity for any of the AMPA receptor subunits. Electron microscopic analysis confirmed the presence of immunoreactivity for GluR1 and GluR2/3 in the perikarya of spiny neurons and interneurons and GluR4 in perikarya of interneurons only. GluR1 and GluR2/3 subunits were detected in dendrites and spines. A significant population of extrasynaptic receptors was revealed by pre-embedding immunogold labeling along the plasma membranes of perikarya, dendrites, and spines. Receptors were concentrated in the postsynaptic membrane specialization of asymmetrical synapses, as revealed by the postembedding immunogold method. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that immunoreactivity for the GluR1 and GluR2/3 subunits is higher at the periphery than at the middle of the postsynaptic membrane specialization. Our results demonstrate that AMPA receptor subunits are distributed widely and heterogeneously among striatal neurons and are concentrated on the postsynaptic membrane of asymmetrical synaptic specializations, although extrasynaptic receptors are also present.

Perikaryal and synaptic localization of α2A-adrenergic receptor-like immunoreactivity

Through molecular cloning, the existence of three distinct subtypes of α 2-adrenergic receptors ( α 2AR) - A, B and C - has been established and are referred to as α 2AAR, α 2BAR andα 2CAR. Due to limitations in pharmacological tools, it has been difficult to ascribe the role of each subtype to the central functions of α 2AR. In situ hybridization studies have provided valuable information regarding their distribution within brain. However, little is known about their subcellular distribution, and in particular, their pre- versus postsynaptic localization or their relation to noradrenergic neurons in the CNS. We used an antiserum that selectively recognizes the A-subtype of α 2AR to determine: (1) the regional distribution of the receptor within brains of rat and monkey; (2) the subcellular distribution of the receptor in locus coeruleus (LC) of rats and prefrontal cortex of monkeys; and (3) the ultrastructural relation of the receptor to noradrenergic processes in LC. Light microscopic immunocytochemistry revealed prominent immunoreactivity in LC, the brainstem regions modulating the baroreflex, the granule cell layer of the cerebellar cortex, the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus (PVN, SON), the basal ganglia, all thalamic nuclei, the hippocampal formation and throughout cerebral cortical areas. Comparison of results obtained from rat and monkey brains revealed no apparent interspecies-differences in the regional distribution of immunoreactivity. Immunoreactivity occurred as small puncta, less than 1 μm in diameter, that cluster over neuronal perikarya. Besides these puncta, cell bodies, proximal dendrites and fine varicose processes - most likely to be axonal - of the PVN and SON and the hippocampal granule cells also exhibited homogeneously intense distribution of immunoreactivity. Subcellularly, α 2AAR-ir in LC and prefrontal cortex were associated with synaptic and non-synaptic plasma membrane of dendrites and perikarya as well as perikaryal membranous organelles. In addition, cortical tissue, but not LC, exhibited prominent immunoreactivity within spine heads. Rat brainstem tissue immunolabeled dually for α 2AAR and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DβH, the noradrenaline-synthesizing enzyme) revealed that α 2AAR-li occurs in catecholaminergic terminals but is also prevalent within non-catecholaminergic terminals. Terminals exhibiting α 2AAR-li formed symmetric and asymmetric types of synapses onto dendrites with and without DβH-immunoreactivity. These results indicate that: (1) the A-subtype of α 2AR is distributed widely within brain; (2) α 2AAR-li reflects the presence of newly synthesized α 2AAR in perikarya as well as those receptors along the plasma membrane of perikarya, dendritic trunks and spines; and (3) α 2AAR in LC may operate as heteroreceptors on non-catecholaminergic terminals as well as autoreceptors on noradrenergic terminals.

The distribution of dystrophin in the murine central nervous system: An immunocytochemical study

A mild non-progressive cognitive defect is a feature of the fatal X-linked disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Recent studies have identified the genetic defect and the resulting loss of the protein dystrophin, and shown that dystrophin messenger RNA and protein are present in normal brain tissue. We have performed western immunoblotting and fluorescence immunocytochemistry using a sensitive antibody made against a large fragment of the dystrophin molecule to study the regional, cellular and subcellular distribution of dystrophin in the mammalian brain. The brains of B 10 (control) and mdx (dystrophin deficient null mutant) mouse brain were compared on a point-by-point basis to verify that only dystrophin and not autosomal dystrophin related protein or cross-reacting proteins were being identified. In addition three murine neurologic mutants, nervous, lurcher, and weaver, were studied to refine the localization of dystrophin. In western immunoblots, dystrophin is present in all regions of the brain and in greatest abundance in the cerebellum. Dystrophin, as demonstrated in immunofluorescence, is present in neurons, but not in glia or myelin, and forms punctate foci associated with the plasma membrane of perikarya and dendrites, but not axons. While dystrophin is abundant in cerebral cortical neurons and cerebellar Purkinje cells, it is absent from most subcortical neurons, the granule cells of fascia dentata, and cerebellar neurons other than Purkinje cells. The absence of dystrophin in the cerebellum of the Purkinje cell deficient mutants nervous and lurcher, and its presence in the granule cell deficient mutant weaver indicate that dystrophin is a component of Purkinje cells rather than closely apposed afferents to those cells. The distribution and localization of dystrophin suggests a role in organizing the plasma membrane, possibly as an anchor of the postsynaptic apparatus, a possible basis for the cognitive defect in Duchenne dystrophy.

Surface distribution and endocytosis of the NS3 antigen of neuroblastoma: An immunocytochemical study

The surface distribution and adsorptive endocytosis of the NS3 antigen of cultured murine neuroblastoma cells has been studied by indirect immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescent techniques. We have found that 1. 1. The NS3 antigen is present on plasma membranes of perikarya and processes and of murine neuroblastoma 2. 2. Surface redistribution of NS3 induced by anti-NS3 sera occurred in several ‘patches’ rather than in a single ‘cap’; we suggest that asymmetric cells exposed to a bivalent ligand show multiple foci of segregation of plasma membrane antigens. 3. 3. NS3 antigen was observed at the cleavage furrow of mitotic cells at anaphase or telophase 4. 4. Neoplastic neurons are endowed with a system of cisternae and vesicles which is analogous to GERL (Golgi-Endoplasmic Reticulum-Lysosome) of normal neurons 5. 5. Anti-NS3 antibodies linked by bivalent ligands undergo endocytosis into putative lysosomes, while anti-NS3 linked by monovalent ligands undergo endocytosis into GERL.