Localization of protein kinase C alpha, beta and gamma subspecies in sensory axon terminals of the rat muscle spindle.
The localization of protein kinase C (PKC) alpha, beta and gamma subspecies in sensory axon terminals of muscle spindles in the plantar lumbrical muscles of rat was investigated by light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Immunoreactivity for these subspecies was detected specifically in sensory axon terminals which wound spirally around the intrafusal muscle fibres of the muscle spindle. Immunostaining was found to be stronger with polyclonal than with monoclonal antibodies. By electron microscopy, immunoreactivity for alpha, beta and gamma subspecies was almost diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm of the axon terminal, and the overall pattern of distribution of immunoreactivity was similar for all three subspecies. In the cases of alpha and beta subspecies, some intensely immunostained regions were found in the cytoplasm, but no definite subcellular structures corresponding to such regions could be identified. Considering that PKC plays a crucial role in the regulation of ion channels, it is suggested that PKC might be involved in the control of mechanoelectric transduction in sensory axon terminals.
Masutani
M
M
Department of Anatomy, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
Mizoguchi
A
A
Arii
T
T
Iwasaki
T
T
Ide
C
C
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001369:Axons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D007527:Isoenzymes; D011493:Protein Kinase C