Lipofuscin in the cerebellar cortex of albino rats: An electron microscopic study

Abstract

Summary. The ultrastructure of autofluorescent, PAS-positive lipofuscin in Purkinje, granule, Golgi epithelial, basket and stellate, microglial and perivascular cells in the cerebellar cortex of senescent rats is described. The membrane-bounded pigment is composed ofthree elements: 1) electron-lucent homogeneaus droplets, 2) a granular matrix and 3) intensely osmiophilic patches. The proportians ofthese three components vary between cell types and one can grossly differentiate a neuronal and a gliallipofuscin. The lipofuscin granules of stellate and perivscular cells are different from lipofuscin of other cerebellar neurons and glia. lt can be concluded from these morphological observations that each cerebellar cell type has its distinct lipofuscin.

Immunofluorescent Evidence for a Specific Binding Site for Phenytoin in the Cerebellum

“…One autofluorescent material commonly observed in fluorescence microscopy is lipofuscin (Nandy, 1973;Pertschuk et al, 1976;Heinsen, 1979). Aside from the very specific pattern of staining, the substrate and antibody control procedures employed, coupled with the procedures used to reduce tissue autofluorescence, tend to rule out an autofluorescence contribution to our results.…”

“…Aside from the very specific pattern of staining, the substrate and antibody control procedures employed, coupled with the procedures used to reduce tissue autofluorescence, tend to rule out an autofluorescence contribution to our results. One autofluorescent material commonly observed in fluorescence microscopy is lipofuscin (Nandy, 1973;Pertschuk et al, 1976;Heinsen, 1979). This pigment has been reported in many types of neurons in aged animals.…”

“…This pigment has been reported in many types of neurons in aged animals. The pattern of lipofuscin staining in the rodent cerebellum was described by Heinsen (1979); even. in the relatively young animals used in this study, we observed a similar pattern of staining, which appears as sporadic yelloworange granules throughout the cerebellum.…”

“…Brain-specific receptors for other psychotropic drugs are well known (Pert et al, 1973;Mohler and Okada, 1977). The concept of an antibody attaching to a drug or neurotransmitter receptor is also not without precedent; antibodies attach to insulin receptors in several different preparations (Flier et a]., 1975;1979), and antibodies to acetylcholine receptors have also been described (Patrick and Lindstrom, 1973;AIman et al, 1974;Lindstrom et al, 1976).…”

Strain-Specific Differences in the Vermian Granular Layer of Albino Rats

“…After we have examined more than 200 cerebella from rats of different strains [Heinsen, 1977[Heinsen, . 1978[Heinsen, , 1979[Heinsen, , 1981, some of the observed morphological features appeared clearly genetically determined. We began a morphomet ric analysis to verify this.…”