Immunoautoradiographic localization of interleukin 2-like immunoreactivity and interleukin 2 receptors (Tac antigen-like immunoreactivity) in the rat brain.
Immunoautoradiographic techniques were used to determine the topographical distribution of interleukin 2-like immunoreactivity and interleukin 2 receptor-like immunoreactivity (Tac antigen-like immunoreactivity) in rat brain. Interleukin 2 receptors were also visualized by film autoradiography using 125I-recombinant human interleukin 2. Endogenous interleukin 2-like immunoreactive material was present in a limited number of brain regions. The highest densities were localized to the median eminence-arcuate nucleus complex, hippocampal formation, lamina IV of the cerebral cortex, lateral septum, neostriatum and cerebellum. Lower levels of interleukin 2-like immunoreactive material were present in the thalamus, medial septum and granule cell layer of the cerebellar cortex. Tac antigen-like immunoreactivity was observed in virtually the same brain regions, and within these brain regions showed the same distribution as interleukin 2-like immunoreactivity. In contrast, [125I]interleukin 2 binding sites were only detected in the hippocampal formation and the molecular layer of the cerebellar cortex. Quantitative analyses confirmed that there was a positive correlation between the densities of interleukin 2-like immunoreactivity and interleukin 2 receptor immunoreactivity (Tac antigen-like immunoreactivity) in various brain regions, suggesting that interleukin 2 is synthesized and/or stored in the vicinity of the site of interaction with the Tac antigen of its receptor. Overall, the presence of endogenous interleukin 2-like immunoreactive material and interleukin 2 receptor-like immunoreactive material in selective regions of the rat brain suggests that this neurokine may normally act to regulate a variety of brain functions in the adult rat.
Lapchak
P A
PA
Department of Neurology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Araujo
D M
DM
Quirion
R
R
Beaudet
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001931:Brain Mapping; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2