Differential uptake of peroxidase (HRP) and peroxidase-lectin (HRP-WGA) conjugate injected in the nodose ganglion of the cat.

A comparison was made of the uptake and consequent axonal transport of peroxidase and peroxidase-lectin conjugate injected in low concentrations (0.167%) in the nodose ganglion of cats. At the light microscopic level horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) intensely labeled only central terminal fields of vagal afferents (anterograde), while free HRP only labeled perikarya in vagal motor nuclei (passing retrograde). Low concentrations of these proteins, in addition to normal diffusion equilibria, permit a differential distribution of those species demonstrating some affinity for cell membranes. We attribute these differences in the uptake of HRP and HRP-WGA to the selective affinity of WGA for cell surface receptors (n-acetyl glucosamine) on the plasma membrane. This results in a greater number of WGA molecules coupled to HRP being internalized in any given endocytotic event compared to free HRP. The fractionation of efferent and passing fiber populations within a nodosal injection site can be discriminated with these different preparations.