title: Localization of synapse-associated proteins during postnatal development of the rat retina.
abstract: The expression of synapse-associated proteins (SAPs) was monitored throughout postnatal development of the rat retina using specific antibodies and immunocytochemistry. The distribution of chapsin-110/postsynaptic density protein (PSD)-93, SAP90/PSD-95, SAP97 and SAP102 immunoreactivity was characterized. All SAPs were found to be expressed in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) from birth on or soon after birth. With the exception of SAP97, the IPL labelling changed from a diffuse pattern staining the whole developing IPL to the typical adult punctate synaptic staining in the second postnatal week. Staining in the outer retina was first observed at postnatal day 5 (P5) for all proteins at the onset of outer plexiform layer (OPL) development. All SAPs showed a differential cellular and temporal distribution being either exclusively pre- or postsynaptically localized. Except for SAP90/PSD-95, immunoreactivity was also detected in the nerve fibre layer throughout postnatal development. Possible functions of the early expression of SAPs well before differentiation and maturation of glutamatergic ribbon synapses are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, Abteilung für Neuroanatomie, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. peter@hermen.med.yale.edu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koulen
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074407:SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000076122:Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein; C501449:Dlg4 protein, rat; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C501451:Mpp2 protein, rat; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000074407:SAP90-PSD95 Associated Proteins; C033652:postsynaptic density proteins