Immunohistochemical demonstration of L-serine distribution in the rat brain.
L-Serine has been suggested by in vitro studies to be an important neurotrophic factor which supports survival and neurite outgrowth of neurons. It is also a precursor of D-serine, a putative neurotransmitter. In the present study, we raised antibodies against L-serine in a rabbit and examined immunohistochemical distribution of the amino acid in the rat brain. In the hippocampus and the cerebellar cortex, where neurotrophic effects of L-serine have been indicated, L-serine immunoreactivity was found primarily in astrocytes. In the brain stem, where neuronal distribution of D-serine was reported, positive staining for L-serine was located primarily in neurons. Regional differences of cellular distribution of L-serine were indicated.
Yasuda
E
E
Department of Anatomy, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu-city, Japan.
Ma
N
N
Semba
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism*
D009418:S100 Proteins; D012694:Serine