Correlation of GAP-43 immunoreactivity with subpopulations of chromaffin cells in rat adrenal medulla.
The neuronal growth-associated protein (GAP-43) is widely expressed during embryonic growth and axonal regeneration and has been thought to contribute to synaptic plasticity in adult animals. In contrast to the exclusively presynaptic pattern of GAP-43 immunoreactivity in sympathetic ganglia, GAP-43 intensely and selectively labeled the noradrenergic subpopulation of adult rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cell bodies, a pattern which persisted with adrenal denervation. Adjacent adrenergic islands containing neuropeptide Y and phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase immunoreactivity failed to express GAP-43. The immunohistochemical appearance of GAP-43 was qualitatively unchanged in the adrenal medulla of aged and diabetic rats, conditions in which the sympathoadrenal axis is thought to be dysfunctional.
Dorsey
D A
DA
Department of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110.
Schmidt
R E
RE
D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003714:Denervation; D004759:Enterochromaffin Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism
D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins