title: Differential localization of four subspecies of protein kinase C in the rat striatum and substantia nigra.
abstract: The distribution of protein kinase C (PKC) subspecies and their colocalization with neurotransmitters were examined in the rat striatum and substantia nigra (SN), using immunocytochemistry. The alpha- and beta I-PKC immunoreactivies were seen predominantly in the perikarya of the neurons in the striatum and SN. In contrast, the beta II- and gamma-PKC immunoreactivities were abundant in both the perikarya and the neuropils in the striatum and only in the neuropils in the SN. From electron microscopic studies, the alpha- and beta I-PKC immunoreactivities were seen adjacent to the plasma membrane, while the beta II-PKC immunoreactivity was observed in the cytoplasm around the Golgi complex. The gamma-PKC immunoreaction was dense throughout the cytoplasm. The double-staining and lesion studies revealed that the alpha-PKC-immunopositive neurons in the striatum were intrinsic cholinergic neurons, and that most of the alpha-PKC-immunoreactive neurons in the SN were dopaminergic neurons. The beta I-PKC-immunoreactive neurons were intrinsic GABAergic neurons in the striatum. Moreover, most of the beta II- and gamma-PKC-immunoreactive neurons were medium-sized neurons projecting to the SN, and over 90% of GABAergic neurons in the caudate-putamen contained beta II-PKC. The beta II-PKC-immunoreactive neurons showed no gamma-PKC immunoreactivity, and the gamma-PKC-immunoreactive neurons were not beta II-PKC immunoreactive. These findings suggest that alpha-PKC is related to the function of the nigral dopaminergic and the striatal cholinergic neurons, and that the beta I-PKC is involved in the function of the striatal intrinsic GABAergic neurons. The beta II- and gamma-PKC may also modulate a specific neuronal function in the striatonigral system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoshihara
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taniyama
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007527:Isoenzymes; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D009842:Oligopeptides; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D004298:Dopamine