The two faces of perineuronal nets.
Perineuronal nets are extracellular structures enwrapping the soma and proximal dendrites of some neurons known to be parvalbumin immunoreactive. The composition of the nets is not completely known, but it can change between different neurons. We studied the heterogeneous composition of a specific component of perineuronal nets, the signaling molecule Janusin (or Tenascin R), by means of a double immunofluorescence using lectin from Wisteria floribunda as a general marker for perineuronal nets and an antibody against Janusin. The presence of two kinds of perineuronal nets, one rich in Janusin (the majority) and a second one devoid of this glycoprotein, indicates differential roles of these neurons, as well as differences in their afferents, or a difference in their functional state.
Institute of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Second University of Naples, Italy.
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D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000166:cytology; D037121:Plant Lectins; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D034781:Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine; D019063:Tenascin / Q000032:analysis*
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D034781:Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine; D019063:Tenascin; C040129:wisteria lectin; C074638:tenascin R