Transport of cytoskeletal proteins in axons of hippocampal pyramidal cells

✍ Scribed by Dr. Danny F. Watson; Kenneth P. Fittro

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 838 KB
• Volume: 3
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1050-9631
• DOI: 10.1002/hipo.450030413

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Axonal transport of cytoskeletal proteins has not yet been extensively studied in the brain proper, in contrast to the peripheral nerves and optic nerves. The authors have developed a means for the study of transport of cytoskeletal proteins in axons of hippocampal pyramidal cells. Proteins of intrinsic neurons of the dorsal hippocampus were labeled by microinjection of ^35^S methionine, and the subsequent transport of labeled proteins was characterized in the axons projecting into the fimbria‐fornix. A peak of labeled proteins was present in the fimbria‐fornix at 4–12 days after labeling, corresponding to transport rates 0.2–0.7 mm/day. The most abudant proteins at each time studied exhibited one‐dimensional electrophoretic mobilites of actin and tubulin; neurofilaments were less intensely labeled. The observed specializations of cytoskeletal transport, especially the paucity of tubulin transport at rates of 2–4 mm/day, may predispose hippocampal pyramidal cells to accumulate tubulin and microtubule‐associated proteins in their cell bodies in various disease states.