Immunohistological localization of desmin, the muscle-type 100 A filament protein, in rat astrocytes and Müller glia.
The distribution of glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein and desmin was compared in cryostat sections of rat brain, spinal cord, and eye by immunofluorescence and peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) staining. Desmin antisera were raised to antigen purified from chicken gizzard. In rat brain and spinal cord, GFA protein and desmin were selectively localized in astrocytes. Neurons and axons were not stained. The only difference between GFA and desmin antisera was the staining of smooth muscle in small arteries with anti-desmin. It was only in retinal glia that a difference in the localization of the two proteins was apparent. As previously reported, only the glia limitans on the inner surface of the retina was demonstrated with GFA antisera in the normal eye. With anti-desmin Müller fibers spanning the whole thickness of the retina were stained. It is concluded that GFA and desmin form two distinct systems of 100 A filaments in astroglia, as previously reported for GFA and vimentin.
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000032:analysis*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000032:analysis / Q000293:injuries; D003893:Desmin; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000032:analysis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology
D003893:Desmin; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins