Characterization of Microtubule-Associated Protein 2 from Mouse Brain and Its Localization in the Cerebellar Cortex

Microtubule-associated protein (MAP) 2 was purified from the microtubule fraction of mouse brain by heat treatment and BioGel A-5m gel filtration. The purified preparation showed a single protein band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using both a gradient gel (3.75-12.5%) and a low-percentage gel (5%), a finding indicating that MAP2B was absent under the conditions used. Amino acid analysis revealed that mouse MAP2 was an acidic protein with an isoelectric point (pI 4.5) and amino acid composition similar to those of porcine brain MAP2. Immunoblot analysis indicated that the antigens that reacted with MAP2 antiserum were present in large quantities in mouse brain. However, we also found a weak reaction in various tissues other than brain, and the major antigens involved were recognized to be common molecular species with the same molecular mass, 162 and 170 kilodaltons. Using antiserum against mouse brain MAP2, the developmental localization patterns of MAP2 in the mouse cerebellar cortex were studied by immunohistochemistry. MAP2 was mainly localized in the neuronal cells throughout development, with the expression in Purkinje cell dendrites being especially remarkable in the growth of arborization from postnatal day 3 to day 20. At the mature stage, the reaction was strong in the dendritic tree but very weak in the proximal dendrites and cell bodies.     

Sulfoglucuronyl Neolactoglycolipids in Adult Cerebellum: Specific Absence in Murine Mutants with Purkinje Cell Abnormality

It is shown here that glycolipids of the sulfoglucuronyl neolacto series (SGGLs) are present in the adult rodent cerebellum. SGGLs were not detected in the cerebellar murine mutants lurcher, Purkinje cell degeneration, and staggerer, in which Purkinje cell loss is the primary defect. SGGLs were present, however, in normal amounts in weaver and reeler mutants, in which there is a major and relatively specific loss of granule cells without obvious deficiency in Purkinje cells. In the myelin-deficient quaking mutant, the expression of SGGLs also was nearly normal. The loss of SGGLs in Purkinje cell-deficient mutants was specific, since most of the major lipids were not affected significantly and only the percentage composition of other lipids, such as sulfatides and gangliosides, was altered in the mutants. These and other results strongly suggest that SGGLs and other glycolipids of the paragloboside family are localized specifically in Purkinje cells and their arbors in the adult cerebellum. This is the first demonstration of the localization of a specific glycolipid and its analogs in a specific cell type in the nervous system.     

Comparative Study of Glial Marker Proteins in the Hypoplastic Cerebellum of Jaundiced Gunn Rats

The behavior of marker proteins of glial cells [alpha-enolase, beta-S100 protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)] was investigated quantitatively by using enzyme immunoassay systems during the development of cerebellar hypoplasia in jaundiced Gunn rats. A neuronal marker protein, gamma-enolase, was also measured as a reference. At postnatal day 8 corresponding to the early stage of cerebellar damage, the amount of beta-S100 on a protein basis was significantly higher in jaundiced homozygotes (jj) than in control nonjaundiced heterozygotes (j+), whereas no differences in alpha- and gamma-enolases and GFAP were observed between the two groups of rats. At days 15 and 30, which correspond, respectively, to the advanced and late stages of cerebellar damage, the three glial proteins, especially GFAP, were higher and the neuronal protein was lower in the jj rat cerebellum than in the control. These results are consistent with the reported histological observations that neuronal cells are vulnerable and damaged by bilirubin, whereas glial cells seem to be less sensitive. On the other hand, the amounts of beta-S100 and alpha-enolase per cerebellum were significantly lower in jj rats at days 15 and 30, as in the case of gamma-enolase, whereas that of GFAP remained at the same level as the control at day 15 and showed a slight but significant decrease at day 30. The possibility is suggested that beta-S100 and GFAP may be available as biochemical indicators of glial cells, especially in the early and advanced stages of cerebellar damage, respectively, but that alpha-enolase is less available.     

Benzodiazepine Receptor Binding in Cerebellar Cortex: Observations in Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy

Benzodiazepine receptor binding was measured in cerebellar cortex of 15 patients with dominantly inherited olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA). The majority of these patients had a moderate to marked Purkinje cell loss, as judged by the lowered levels of dentate nucleus gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a marker of Purkinje cells. Despite the reduction in Purkinje cell number cerebellar cortical benzodiazepine receptor density was either normal or slightly elevated in the OPCA patients. These results are in contrast to the findings in a mutant strain of mice deficient in Purkinje cells in which the concentration of benzodiazepine receptors in cerebellum is greatly reduced. Our data indicate that in the human, cerebellar cortical benzodiazepine receptors are either not significantly associated with Purkinje cells or that in OPCA Purkinje cell loss triggers a de novo synthesis of extra benzodiazepine binding sites. It is concluded that, in contrast with the rodent, in the human benzodiazepine receptor binding may not serve as a marker for cerebellar Purkinje cells.     

Regional differences in the distribution of golgi cells in the cerebellar cortex of man and some other mammals

Summary The number of Golgi cells per unit volume was determined in different regions of the cerebellar cortex of man and of ten other mammals. Despite the general belief in the uniform architecture of the cerebellar cortex, regional differences in the distribution of Golgi cells were found. In the inferior parts of the vermis, the number of Golgi cells per unit volume is twice that in the corresponding hemispheres. In addition, there are differences between the anterior and inferior parts of the vermis. These differences are a feature of the cytoarchitecture of the cerebellum in man and all the investigated mammals. The ratio of Purkinje cells to Golgi cells was also determined and found to differ in different species. In man, this ratio is 11.5, while in the monkey and cat it is almost 11.9 and in the rat 13.3. These differences in the ratio of Purkinje cells to Golgi cells are discussed from the point of view of cerebellar evolution.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Modulation of Ganglioside Biosynthesis in Primary Cultured Neurons

Murine cerebellar cells were pulse labeled with [14C]galactose, and the incorporation of radioactivity into gangliosides and neutral glycosphingolipids was examined under different experimental conditions. In the presence of drugs affecting intracellular membrane flow, as well as at 15 degrees C, labeled GlcCer was found to accumulate in the cells, whereas the labeling of higher glycosphingolipids and gangliosides was reduced. Monensin and modulators of the cytoskeleton effectively blocked biosynthesis of the complex gangliosides GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b, and GQ1b, whereas incorporation of radioactivity into neutral glycosphingolipids, such as glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide, as well as GM3, GM2, and GD3 was either increased or unaltered. As monensin has been reported to interfere with the flow of molecules from the cis to the trans stacks of the Golgi apparatus, this result highlights at least one subcompartmentalization of ganglioside biosynthesis within the Golgi system. Inhibitors of energy metabolism affected, predominantly, the biosynthesis of the b-series gangliosides, whereas a reduced temperature (15 degrees C) more effectively blocked incorporation of radiolabel into the a-series gangliosides, a result suggesting the importance of GM3, as the principal branching point, for the regulation of ganglioside biosynthesis.     

Evidence that Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Is Involved in Age-Induced Apoptosis in Mature Cerebellar Neurons in Culture

Abstract: Under typical culture conditions, cerebellar granule cells die abruptly after 17 days in vitro. This burst of neuronal death involves ultrastructural changes and internucleosomal DNA fragmentations characteristic of apoptosis and is effectively arrested by pretreatment with actinomycin-D and cycloheximide. The level of a 38-kDa protein in the particulate fraction is markedly increased during age-induced cell death and by pretreatment with NMDA, which potentiates this cell death. Conversely, the age-induced increment of the 38-kDa particulate protein is suppressed by actinomycin-D and cycloheximide. N-terminal microsequencing of the 38-kDa protein revealed sequence identity with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). A GAPDH antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide blocks age-induced expression of the particulate 38-kDa protein and effectively inhibits neuronal apoptosis. In contrast, the corresponding sense oligonucleotide of GAPDH was completely ineffective in preventing the age-induced neuronal death and the 38-kDa protein overexpression. Moreover, the age-induced expression of the 38-kDa protein is preceded by a pronounced increase in the GAPDH mRNA level, which is abolished by actinomycin-D, cycloheximide, or the GAPDH antisense, but not sense, oligonucleotide. Thus, our results suggest that overexpression of GAPDH in the particulate fraction has a direct role in age-induced apoptosis of cerebellar neurons.     

刺激中缝背核调制小脑间位核神经元电活动

刺激中缝背核（ｄｏｒｓａｌｒａｐｈｅｎｕｃｌｅｕｓ,ＤＲ）可以引起小脑间位核（ｉｎｔｅｒｐｏｓｅｄｎｕｃｌｅｕｓ,ＩＮ）神经元抑制,兴奋和双相（抑制－兴奋和兴奋－抑制）３种不同类型的反应,其中以抑制反应为主（７６．０％）,多数细胞的反应潜伏期〈３０ｍｓ。ＩＮ细胞的自发放电频率为５－１２０Ｈｚ,自发放电频率高的神经元群体对ＤＲ刺激的反应率却比自发放电频率低的群体低。静脉注射５－ＨＴ２／１ｃ受体阻断剂