title: Confocal imaging of HuC/D RNA-binding proteins in adult rat primary sensory neurons.
abstract: HuC/D RNA-binding proteins are antigens that are specifically expressed in nerve cells. In the present study, immunocytochemistry and laser confocal microscopy were used to study the cellular distribution of HuC/D RNA-binding proteins in adult rat primary sensory neurons. Colocalization with the protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) was used to identify sensory neurons. Confocal laser imaging showed that HuC/D antigens are expressed in the cytoplasm of all rat primary sensory neurons. Most neurons also showed anti-HuC/D immuno-positivity in the nucleus. The demonstration of the ubiquitous expression of HuC/D antigens in primary sensory neurons gives us a possible explanation for the severe pathological lesions observed in dorsal root ganglia in association with the paraneoplastic Hu Syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università di Torino, Ospedale San Luigi, Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano, Torino, I-10043, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fornaro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geuna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051959:ELAV Proteins; D000067778:ELAV-Like Protein 3; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
chemical_list: D051959:ELAV Proteins; D000067778:ELAV-Like Protein 3; C490262:Elavl3 protein, rat; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D013869:Thiolester Hydrolases; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase