Wisteria floribunda agglutinin labeling patterns in the human cortex: a tool for revealing areal borders and subdivisions in parallel with immunocytochemistry.
Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) is a lectin that labels selectively N-acetylgalactosamines beta 1 (GalNAc beta 1-3 Gal) residues of glycoproteins within the extracellular matrix of the neurons, and has been identified as a specific marker for functionally different cortical areas of the rodent brain. Here we report that WFA-binding sites can be used for the characterization of cortical areas and their subdivisions of the immersion-fixed human brain. WFA-binding showed an area-specific distribution pattern within areas 1, and 3a-3b of the somatosensory cortex as well as in the primary motor areas 4a-4p. The WFA-binding labeled stripes of 150-175 microm width at intervals of 800-1000 microm within the motor cortex but not in the somatosensory cortex. At the cellular level, differences in staining intensities among certain cell types were evident among WFA-positive glial cells. WFA binding seems to be a useful marker to reveal areal borders and function related intraareal specializations in combination with immunocytochemical techniques.
Hilbig
H
H
Institute of Anatomy, Leipzig University, Department of Medicine, Germany. hilbigh@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Bidmon
H J
HJ
Blohm
U
U
Zilles
K
K
D000906:Antibodies; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D037121:Plant Lectins; D034781:Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D037102:Lectins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D034781:Receptors, N-Acetylglucosamine; C040129:wisteria lectin