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Differentiation of glycoconjugates localized to sensory terminals and selected sites in brain
Author(s) -
Spicer S.S.,
Naegele J.R.,
Schulte B.A.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9861(19960205)365:2<217::aid-cne2>3.0.co;2-8
Subject(s) - biology , sensory system , glycoconjugate , neuroscience , bioinformatics
Distribution of complex carbohydrates in the peripheral and central nervous systems was investigated cytochemically with a lectin that binds specifically to terminal αGalNAc and with monoclonal antibodies against carbohydrate epitopes, including glucuronic acid 3‐SO 4 and chondroitins 6‐SO 4 and 4‐SO 4 . Comparative staining with these methods differentiated and partially characterized several glycoconjugates in various sites and allowed a comparison of chemical heterogeneity to neural specialization. Distal terminals of sensory neurons concerned with hearing, balance, taste, touch, and sight expressed glucuronyl 3‐SO 4 , which apparently was present in an undefined glycoprotein. Some neurons in sensory nuclei of the brainstem exhibited a similar constituent on their surfaces. Retinal rod outer segments and the cerebellar granular layer possessed masked glucuronyl 3‐SO 4 that became immunopositive after digestion with chondroitinase ABC and that occurred in chondroitin 6‐SO 4 and chondroitin 4‐SO 4 , respectively. The surface of neurons in the eighth nerve root and in neighboring nodes of Ranvier stained for unmasked glucuronic acid 3‐SO 4 and chondroitin 6‐SO 4 . Some neurons of the cerebral cortex expressed unmasked glucuronyl 3‐SO 4 , chondroitin 6‐SO 4 , and terminal αGalNAc on their surfaces. Certain cortical neurons and nerve tracts with chondroitin 6‐SO 4 and terminal αGalNAc lacked glucuronyl 3‐SO 4 , and other neurons possessing chondroitin 6‐SO 4 failed to express either glucuronyl 3‐SO 4 or terminal αGalNAc. Lability of lectin affinity to hyaluronidase suggested the presence of terminal αGalNAc in the chondroitin 6‐SO 4 on cortical neurons. The findings document further the heterogeneity of neural glycoconjugates, expand knowledge about the diversity of neurons with respect to their content of partially characterized glycoconjugates, and link glucuronyl 3‐SO 4 with or without chondroitin 6‐SO 4 spatially to sites of active Na + transport in sensory nerves. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.