title: Distribution of transferrin receptors in relation to cytochrome oxidase activity in the human spinal cord, lower brainstem and cerebellum.
abstract: Neuronal activity and oxidative energy metabolism are tightly coupled. There is evidence that cytochrome oxidase, the terminal enzyme of the electron transport chain, can serve as a metabolic marker of neuronal activity. All the respiratory chain enzymes have iron containing prosthetic groups and therefore represent an important component of iron utilisation. Since iron entry into cells is mediated by the transferrin receptor, this receptor may also serve as marker of neuronal activity. The histochemical distribution of cytochrome oxidase has therefore been compared with the autoradiographic distribution of the transferrin receptor in the human spinal cord, brainstem and cerebellum. Cytochrome oxidase activity showed a very similar pattern of distribution to the transferrin receptor in the spinal cord, brainstem and cerebellum. The highest levels of cytochrome oxidase activity and transferrin receptor binding were associated with; in the spinal cord, the substantia gelatinosa, laminae II and III and the motor neurones; in the medulla and pons, the spinal trigeminal nucleus, hypoglossal nucleus, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, inferior and superior olives, nucleus praepositus, nucleus paramedianus, central grey, superior central nuclei and locus coeruleus; in the cerebellum, the molecular layer. The results suggest that the transferrin receptor may provide a useful marker of total neuronal respiratory activity.
authors.affiliation: MRC Neurochemical Pathology Unit, Newcastle General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Candy
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bloxham
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Edwardson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000737:chemistry*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000737:chemistry*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000032:analysis*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000032:analysis*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014168:Transferrin; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV