Localization of cholesterol, phosphocholine and galactosylceramide in rat cerebellar cortex with imaging TOF-SIMS equipped with a bismuth cluster ion source

Time-of-flight secondary-ion-mass-spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) was utilized to address the issue of co-localization of cholesterol, phosphocholine and galactosylceramide in rat cerebellar cortex. Rat cerebellum was fixed, freeze-protected by sucrose, frozen and sectioned by cryoultramicrotomy and dried at room temperature. The samples were analyzed in an imaging TOF-SIMS instrument equipped with a Bi(1-7)+-source. The cholesterol signal (m/z 369 and 385) was localized in Purkinje cells and in nuclei of granular layer cells. The phosphocholine headgroup of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin was localized by imaging a specific fragment (m/z 86). This signal was localized in the molecular layer of cerebellar cortex, in Purkinje cells and in parts of the granular layer probably representing the synapse-rich glomeruli. The galactosylceramide was localized by imaging the quasi-molecular ions at m/z 835 and 851, showed a clear colocalization with cholesterol, but also a specific localization in dots (diameter 相似文献   

Localization of arylsulphatase in neurons

Abstract— Arylsulphatase activity, with 4-methylumbelliferone sulphate as substrate, was measured by a quantitative histochemical method in individual anterior horn nerve cell bodies and adjacent neuropil of man and monkey; and in molecular and granular layers and subjacent white matter of cerebellum of monkey, rat and guinea pig. The activity was much higher in neuronal perikarya than in neuropil, and higher in the granular layer of cerebellum than in the molecular or white matter, thus resembling the distinctive distribution, reported in monkey, of three other lysosomal enzymes, β-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase and α-naphthyl acid phosphatase. One exception was encountered: the white matter of guinea pig cerebellum had more arysulphatase activity than the granular layer. For comparison, other lysosomal enzymes also were measured in rat and guinea pig cerebellum; in these species, α-naphthyl acid phosphatase distribution was found to differ from that of β-galactosidase and arysulphatase, and from the pattern common to four lysosomal enzymes in the monkey.     

Analysis of sulfatide from rat cerebellum and multiple sclerosis white matter by negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry

The accumulation of sulfatide (sulfatogalactosyl cerebroside) and changes in the sulfatide species present have been examined in the cerebellum of day 6-32 aged rats and in multiple sclerosis (MS) tissue samples. Negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry with daughter and parent ion analyses were used to distinguish the fatty acyl character in the amide linkage of sulfatide; measurement was done by selected ion and multiple reaction monitoring of individually identified sulfatide molecules. Sulfatide accumulation in rat cerebellum shows that 18:0- and hydroxylated 18:0-sulfatide are the first sulfatide molecules detectable. Very long fatty acyl chain sulfatide molecules (>20:0) are present at day 7 and the ratio of non-hydroxylated compared to hydroxylated sulfatide rises as the amount of non-hydroxylated sulfatide increases. 24:1-sulfatide accumulates at a ratio of about 3:1 over 24:0-sulfatide during active myelination. Analyses of the sulfatide in human tissue have shown differences between MS plaque tissues, normal appearing adjacent white matter and control tissues. The findings show that total sulfatide is reduced by 60% in the plaque matter and decreased 25% in adjacent normal appearing white matter. There are significant increases (P=0.05) in the amount of hydroxylation of sulfatide, demonstrated by an increase in the percentage of hydroxylated h24:0-sulfatide (hydroxy-lignoceroyl sulfatide).     

Sulfatide with short fatty acid dominates in astrocytes and neurons

Glycosphingolipids are located in cell membranes and the brain is especially enriched. We speculated that the subcellular location of glycosphingolipids depends on their fatty acid chain length because their sugar residues are constant, whereas fatty acid chain length can vary within the same molecule. To test this hypothesis we analysed the glycosphingolipid sulfatide, which is highly abundant in myelin and has mostly long fatty acids. We used a negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry precursor ion scan to analyse the molecular species of sulfatide in cultured astrocytes and a mouse model of the human disease metachromatic leukodystrophy. In these arylsulfatase A (ASA)-deficient mice sulfatide accumulates intracellularly in neurons and astrocytes. Immunocytochemistry was also performed on cultured astrocytes and analysed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Analyses of the molecular species showed that cultured astrocytes contained sulfatide with a predominance of stearic acid (C18), which was located in large intracellular vesicles throughout the cell body and along the processes. The same was seen in ASA-deficient mice, which accumulated a higher proportion (15 mol% compared with 8 mol% in control mice) of sulfatide with stearic acid. We conclude that the major fatty acid composition of sulfatide differs between white and grey matter, with neurons and astrocytes containing mostly short-chain fatty acids with an emphasis on stearic acid. Based on our results, we speculate that the fatty acid chain length of sulfatide might determine its intracellular (short chain) or extracellular (long chain) location and thereby its functions.     

2-Deoxyglucose Incorporation in the Cerebellum of Weaver and Nervous Mutant Mice

Abstract: The 2-deoxyglucose autoradiographic method has been used to study activity in cerebellum of the weaver and nervous mutant mice. Patterns of 2-deoxyglucose incorporation into the cerebral hemispheres from weaver and nervous strains did not differ significantly from those of the controls. In the normal cerebellum, 2-deoxyglucose incorporation was maximal in the granular layer, where mossy fibers form synapses with the dendrites of granule cells. In the cerebellum of nervous mice, which lacks Purkinje cells, the incorporation of the 2-deoxyglucose was maximal in the granular layer, but the incorporation into the molecular layer appeared less than in the control. The incorporation into the cerebellum from weaver, which lacks granule cells, was much higher than that of the control, the maximal incorporation being found in the Purkinje cell layer and in cell masses located in the white matter. These data suggest that the heterologous synapses that mossy fibers or climbing fibers form with the cells in the Purkinje cell layer and the cells in the white matter in the weaver cerebellum are functional.     

Distribution of cholesterol and galactosylceramide in rat cerebellar white matter

White matter and the inner granular layer of rat cerebellum was analysed by imaging time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) equipped with a Bi+ ion cluster gun. Samples were prepared by high pressure freezing, freeze-fracturing and freeze drying or by plunge freezing and cryostat sectioning. The identified and localized chemical species were: sodium, potassium, phosphocholine, cholesterol and galactosylceramide (GalC) with carbon chain lengths C18:0 (N-stearoyl-galactosylceramide) and C24:0 (N-lignoceroylgalactosylceramide) with CH24:0 (hydroxy-lignoceroylgalactosylceramide). We report new findings regarding the organization of myelin in white matter. One is cholesterol-rich, ribbon-shaped 10-20 microm areas excluding Na+ and K+. The second finding is the different distribution of GalC C18 and GalC C24 in relation to these areas, where GalC C18 was localized in cholesterol-rich areas and GalC C24 was localized in Na/K-enriched areas. The distribution of GalC was in small spots, homogeneous in size, of 0.8-1.5 microm. Sample preparation with high pressure freezing allowed separate localization of sodium and potassium in tissue samples.     

LOCALIZATION OF THE THY-1 ANTIGEN IN THE CEREBELLAR CORTEX OF RAT BRAIN BY IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE DURING POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract— At birth in the rat brain the Thy-1 antigen was present at 10% of the adult level and increased rapidly to reach near adult levels after 3 weeks. Localization studies by immunofluorescence on sections of rat cerebellar cortex during this period showed that at day 5 there was weak fluorescence associated mainly with the molecular layer and some fibre-like structures in the centre of the folium; no fluorescence was found around the cells of external granular layer. From 5 to 16 days there was a rapid increase in Thy-1 immunofluorescence with noticeably higher levels associated with the white matter than the molecular layer. However, by 21 days the reverse was found' with lower levels in white matter than in the molecular layer with a similar distribution to that observed previously in adult rat cerebellum. Small rings and patches of fluorescence were observed in the molecular and granular layers. The results indicated that Thy-1 was present on axons, mature neurons and their processes. In addition, Thy-1 immunofluorescence was found in the pia-arachnoid until around day 16.     

Oligosaccharide Composition, Localization, and Developmental Changes of a CNS-Specific (F3-87-8) Glycoprotein

The F3-87-8 glycoprotein was isolated from rat brain by immunoaffinity chromatography after biosynthetic labeling by intracerebral administration of [3H]glucosamine, and the oligosaccharide composition of pronase-derived glycopeptides was determined by sequential lectin affinity chromatography and alkali treatment. Triantennary complex oligosaccharides (65%) and O-glycosidic oligosaccharides (18%) were the predominant types present, accompanied by 7-10% each of biantennary and high-mannose oligosaccharides. Twenty-two percent of the complex oligosaccharides had a fucose residue linked to the proximal N-acetylglucosamine of the chitobiose units. No poly(N-acetyllactosaminyl) or hybrid oligosaccharides were detected. Immunocytochemical studies on the localization of this glycoprotein in developing rat brain demonstrated that in 1-week postnatal cerebellum, there is light staining of the internal granule cell layer and surrounding the Purkinje cells. By 2 weeks, an intense staining of myelinating fiber tracts appears, accompanied by much lighter staining in the granule cell layer and at the base of the molecular layer. Staining of the white matter remains strong at 3 weeks postnatal, together with significant staining throughout the molecular layer, and then decreases in both areas by 1 month. In adult brain there is relatively uniform staining of approximately equal intensity in the white matter, granule cell layer, and molecular layer, whereas the Purkinje cell bodies appear unstained throughout development. In agreement with a previously reported immunochemical analysis, no staining was seen in other tissues, confirming the CNS-specific localization of this glycoprotein.     

Production of an antiserum against cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and its use for the immunocytochemical demonstration of this enzyme in rat cerebellum

A procedure for the separation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from a commercially available preparation and for raising antibodies against this enzyme in rabbits is described. An antiserum thus obtained was used for the immunocytochemical detection of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in rat cerebellum. The molecular layer, the granular layer and the cerebellar white matter exhibited different degrees of immunoreactivity. Only a few cell bodies (possibly glial cells) were stained. Most of the antigenic sites were present in the neuropil of the molecular layer and around Purkinje cells. Cerebellar glomeruli, sites of synaptic interactions between mossy fibres, Golgi cells and granule cells, were also stained by this antiserum. Control reactions using preimmune serum were consistently negative.     

Expression of FSH and its co-localization with FSH receptor and GnRH receptor in rat cerebellar cortex

The expression of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and its receptor in extrapituitary and non-HPG axis tissues has been demonstrated and their non-reproductive functions in these tissues have been found. However, there have been no reports concerning the expression and function of FSH and its receptor in the cerebellum. In our study, immunofluorescence staining and in situ hybridization were used to detect the expression of FSH, double-labeled immunofluorescence staining was used to detect co-localization of FSH and its receptor and co-localization of FSH and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor in the rat cerebellar cortex. Results showed that some cells of the Purkinje cell layer, granular layer, and molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex showed both FSH immunoreactivity and FSH mRNA positive signals; not only for FSH and FSH receptor, but also for FSH and GnRH receptor co-localized in some cells throughout the Purkinje cell layer, granular layer, and molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex. These suggested that rat cerebellum could express FSH; cerebellum is a target tissue of FSH; FSH may exert certain functions through FSH receptor in a paracrine or autocrine manner; GnRH may regulate FSH positive cells through GnRH receptor in the cerebellum. Our study provides morphological evidence for further functional research on FSH and related hormones in the cerebellum.     

Production of an antiserum against cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and its use for the immunocytochemical demonstration of this enzyme in rat cerebellum

Summary A procedure for the separation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from a commercially available preparation and for raising antibodies against this enzyme in rabbits is described. An antiserum thus obtained was used for the immunocytochemical detection of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase in rat cerebellum. The molecular layer, the granular layer and the cerebellar white matter exhibited different degrees of immunoreactivity. Only a few cell bodies (possibly glial cells) were stained. Most of the antigenic sites were present in the neuropil of the molecular layer and around Purkinje cells. Cerebellar glomeruli, sites of synaptic interactions between mossy fibres, Golgi cells and granule cells, were also stained by this antiserum. Control reactions using preimmune serum were consistently negative.Dedicated to Professor Dr. T.H. Schiebler on the occasion of his 65th birthday.     

Species variation in the localisation of esterases in the cerebellar cortex of mouse and bat

A comparative study of the distribution of a simple esterase and acetylcholinesterase in the cerebellar cortex of mouse and bat has been made. The Purkinje layer is intensely positive for simple esterase in both species. The granular and molecular layers showed mild to moderate activity in mouse and intense activity in bat. Acetylcholinesterase in cerebellar layers of bat is more intense than in mouse. In bat cerebellum, acetylcholinesterase is observed in the dendrites of Purkinje cells, but not in their cell bodies. Acetylcholinesterase was not found in Purkinje cells of mouse.     

THE CHARACTERIZATION OF SPHINGOLIPIDS OF OLIGODENDROGLIA FROM CALF BRAIN

Abstract— Purified oligodendroglia isolated from bovine brain white matter were found to contain, in addition to galactosylceramide, sulfatide and sphingomyelin, significant quantities of glucosylcerai-mide, dihexosylceramide and esterified galactosylceramide. These sphingolipids were isolated and quan-titated and their fatty acid and long chain base patterns compared with those from sphingolipids isolated from bovine myelin, white matter and gray matter.
The minor glycosphingolipids, glucosylceramide, dihexosylceramide and esterified galactosylceramide, constituted a higher percentage of glial lipids than of myelin lipids. Glucosylceramide accounted for 12% of the total glial monohexosylceramide fraction and 0.8% of total lipids; dihexosylceramide was 0.9% of total glial lipids. Both of these lipids had small quantities of α-hydroxy fatty acids. The unsubstituted fatty acids of glucosylceramide were mostly short chain (16 and 18 carbons) and were different from those of the dihexosylceramides which were a mixture of short and long chain. The hydroxy acids of each of these lipids were, however, similar and resembled those of galactosylceramide.
The fatty acid patterns of galactosylceramide, sulfatide and sphingomyelin from glial cells resembled those of the corresponding lipids from myelin and white matter. The amide-linked acids of esterified galactosylceramide contained both unsubstituted and α-hydroxy chains. Their patterns were not identical to those of galactosylceramide, but were similar in all brain fractions.
With the exception of sphingomyelin and dihexosylceramide, which contained small amounts of C₂₀-sphingosine, all sphingolipids analyzed contained mostly sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine.
We conclude that the distribution of sphingolipids in the oligodendroglia is characteristic, but the lipophilic residues of these lipids are not cell-specific.     

Localizing Genes to Cerebellar Layers by Classifying ISH Images

Gene expression controls how the brain develops and functions. Understanding control processes in the brain is particularly hard since they involve numerous types of neurons and glia, and very little is known about which genes are expressed in which cells and brain layers. Here we describe an approach to detect genes whose expression is primarily localized to a specific brain layer and apply it to the mouse cerebellum. We learn typical spatial patterns of expression from a few markers that are known to be localized to specific layers, and use these patterns to predict localization for new genes. We analyze images of in-situ hybridization (ISH) experiments, which we represent using histograms of local binary patterns (LBP) and train image classifiers and gene classifiers for four layers of the cerebellum: the Purkinje, granular, molecular and white matter layer. On held-out data, the layer classifiers achieve accuracy above 94% (AUC) by representing each image at multiple scales and by combining multiple image scores into a single gene-level decision. When applied to the full mouse genome, the classifiers predict specific layer localization for hundreds of new genes in the Purkinje and granular layers. Many genes localized to the Purkinje layer are likely to be expressed in astrocytes, and many others are involved in lipid metabolism, possibly due to the unusual size of Purkinje cells.     

Ectopic parvalbumin-positive cells in the cerebellum of the adult mutant mouse 'nervous'

The basket and stellate cells of the 'nervous' mouse cerebellum lose 50% of their presynaptic parallel fibres and more than 90% of Purkinje cells, their major postsynaptic targets, after postnatal day 23. To study the fate of these molecular layer cells we examined the cerebellum of the mutant mouse 'nervous' with antisera against the 'marker protein' parvalbumin, which exclusively tags Purkinje, basket, and stellate cells. Ten homozygous 'nervous' mice, 12-14 weeks old, and 30 control animals of several inbred strains were examined. The number of basket and stellate cells decreased in affected areas of the molecular layer. In addition, parvalbumin-positive cells were detected in the granular layer, in the white matter of the cerebellum and in the area of the cerebellar peduncles of all 'nervous' mice, but not in those of the control animals. These cells mainly occurred in areas which still displayed degenerating Purkinje cell axons. Ectopic parvalbumin-positive cells could either represent a class of interneurons, which have changed their antigenic properties, and therefore happen to stain with antisera against parvalbumin, or stratum moleculare cells which have failed to recognise their proper position during ontogenesis. Alternatively these cells could represent postdevelopmental basket cells, which have acquired the ability to migrate.     

Distribution of sialoglycoconjugates in the rat cerebellum and its change with aging.

We examined the distribution of sialoglycoconjugates in the cerebellum of 9-week-old and 30-month-old rats using light microscopy and electron microscopy in combination with two lectins, Maackia amurensis lectin (MAL) for Sia(alpha)2-3Gal and Sambucus sieboldiana agglutinin (SSA) for Sia(alpha)2-6Gal. Each lectin showed characteristic staining patterns. In young adult rats, MAL stained a strongly granular layer, a weakly molecular layer, and the medullary lamina, while SSA more strongly stained the medullary lamina than the molecular and granular layers. After aging, different staining patterns were obtained. Intense SSA reactivity was observed in the granular layer and intense MAL reactivity was observed in the medullary lamina of the aged groups. The reactivity of Purkinje cells with MAL was downregulated in the aged rats. These results indicated that Sia(alpha)2-3Gal and Sia(alpha)2-6Gal were expressed in distinct regions of the rat cerebellum and that their expression patterns changed in the aged brain.     

Monoclonal antibody (M2) to glial and neuronal cell surfaces

A monoclonal antibody designated M2 arose from the fusion of mouse myeloma cells with splenocytes from a rat immunized with particulate fraction from early postnatal mouse cerebellum. Expression of M2 antigen was examined by indirect immunofluorescence on frozen sections of developing and adult mouse cerebellum and on monolayer cultures of early postnatal mouse cerebellar cells. In adult cerebellum, M2 staining outlines the cell bodies of granule and Purkinje cells. A weaker, more diffuse staining is seen in the molecular layer and white matter. In sections of newborn cerebellum, M2 antigen is weakly detectable surrounding cells of the external granular layer and Purkinje cells. The expression of M2 antigen increases during development in both cell types, reaching adult levels by postnatal day 14. At all stages of postnatal cerebellar development, granule cells that have completed migration to the internal granule layer are more heavily stained by M2 antibodies than are those before and in process of migration. In monolayer cultures, M2 antigen is detected on the cell surface Of all GFA protein-positive astrocytes and on more immature oligodendrocytes, that express 04 antigen but not 01 antigen. After 3 days in culture, tetanus toxinpositive neurons begin to express M2 antigen. The same delayed expression of M2 antigen on neurons is observed in cultures derived from mice ranging in age from postnatal day 0 to 10.     

Electron microscopic localization of neuron-specific enolase in rat and mouse brain

The cellular distribution and intracellular localization of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) has been studied by electron microscopic immunocytochemistry in the brain of the rat and of the mouse. Although the intensity of staining was less in the mouse, the same structures were positive in both species. In the cerebrum, the neuronal perikarya and dendrites were intensely stained, but staining was almost entirely absent in the presynaptic terminals. The deep neurons of the brain stem were also positive. In the cerebellum, perikarya, axons, and parallel fibers of the granule cell neurons were stained as were the synaptic vesicles and presynaptic membranes of the synapses between the parallel fibers and the Purkinje cell dendrites. Golgi cell dendrites, basket cells and their axons, and mossy fibers were also positive. In contrast, the Purkinje cells including their dendrites, and the climbing fibers that formed synapses with the Purkinje cell dendrites were not stained. The majority of the myelinated axons in both the cerebrum and the cerebellum did not stain, but the fibrillary astrocytic processes between myelinated axons in the white matter did. Oligodendroglia, protoplasmic astrocytes, Bergmann glia, astrocytes investing capillaries, and vascular endothelial cells were negative for reaction product. In the positively staining cells and their processes, the positivity was dispersed throughout the cytoplasm and corresponded most closely to the distribution of ribosomes, the granular endoplasmic reticulum, and microtubules. Nuclei, mitochondria, the cisternae of the Golgi complex, myelin lamellae, and most membranes were not stained.     

Characterization of Annexins in Mammalian Brain

Three annexins--p68, endonexin, and p32--have been isolated from porcine brain using their calcium-dependent affinity for membranes. Large amounts (20-50 mg/kg of tissue) of p68 and p32 can be isolated from cerebrum and cerebellum. The p68 is present as up to 0.3% of total porcine brain protein. The p68 and p32 from porcine brain bind to phosphatidic acid (half-maximal binding at 6 and 34 microM free calcium, respectively) and to phosphatidylserine (8 and 34 microM, respectively). They do not bind to phosphatidylcholine at calcium concentrations up to 1 mM. Two other major proteins (Mr 180,000 and Mr 76,000) were isolated with the annexins in a calcium-dependent manner but do not bind to phospholipids. The 180-kilodalton protein is the heavy chain of clathrin. From immunohistochemical studies, p68 is strongly associated with the plasma membranes of Purkinje cell bodies and dendrites in porcine cerebellum. It is also an intracellular component of Purkinje cells localized to perinuclear structures. Staining of axons in the white matter and granule cell layer was also seen. In contrast, p32 is completely absent from Purkinje cells and their dendrites; it is predominantly located in the molecular layer and in white matter of the cerebellar folds. The distribution of p32 may be consistent with a predominantly glial localization.