Regional variation in the abundance of axonal cytoskeletal proteins.
The relative abundance of several axonal cytoskeletal proteins was determined by immunoassay at various sites in the peripheral and central nervous systems of adult rats. Within the peripheral nervous system, the ratio of tubulin to neurofilaments was greatest for nerves composed of unmyelinated axons and least for nerves with large myelinated axons. MAP1 protein was more prominent in unmyelinated fibers; conversely tau proteins were relatively more abundant in large myelinated axons. An immunochemical index of neurofilament phosphorylation was less for unmyelinated fibers than for myelinated ones. In the fimbria-fornix, pyramidal tract, and superior cerebellar peduncle, similar trends were observed: small axons had more MAP1, less tau, and a greater ratio of tubulin to neurofilament proteins. The phosphorylation index was greatest for the superior cerebellar peduncle, the tract with the largest axons. The immunochemical index of neurofilament phosphorylation was greater for the optic nerve than for axonal tracts in the brain proper. These results suggest that development of large myelinated axons is associated with greater neurofilament content, neurofilament phosphorylation, and with greater abundance of tau proteins in the CNS and the PNS; however, quantitative aspects of these relationships differ in the PNS and the CNS.
Watson
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Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201.
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001369:Axons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001921:Brain / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins