IgG anti-Galnac-GD1a antibodies bind to neuromuscular junctions of rat hemidiaphragm.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the localization of a ganglioside, N-acetylgalactosaminyl GD1a (GalNAc-GD1a), in peripheral nerves with an IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody, which was produced in rabbits immunized with GalNAc-GD1a.


METHODS
Teased fibers from ventral and dorsal roots and hemidiaphragm sections of rats were assessed using fluorescent double- and triple-labeling methods.


RESULTS
The nodal and paranodal regions of teased fibers from ventral roots were immunostained with IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies. After collagenase treatment, no staining was seen with IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a or anti-NF200 antibodies, whereas α-bungarotoxin selectively stained nerve terminals. In cross-sectional and longitudinal sections of rat hemidiaphragm, IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibodies overlapped with α-BuTx and anti-NF200 antibodies, indicating that GalNAc-GD1a is localized to the nerve terminal. IgG anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody staining also overlapped with that of AChR clusters and syntaxin-positive presynaptic nerve terminals.


CONCLUSIONS
GalNAc-GD1 is localized in both pre- and postsynaptic nerve terminals of neuromuscular junctions.
Department of Medicinal Pharmacology, Showa Pharmaceutical University, 3-3165 Higashitamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan.
Takumi
T
Nagaoka
Sayako
S
Hotta
Terumasa
T
Chiba
Iku
I
Utsunomiya
Kenji
K
Abe
Hiide
H
Yoshino
Chiaki
C
Koshikawa
Kyoji
K
Taguchi
D000818:Animals; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D005732:Gangliosides; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C055253:IV(4)-galactosyl-N-acetylganglioside GD1a