The distribution of Thy-1 antigen in the P.N.S. of the adult rat

Abstract

The distribution of the cell surface glycoprotein Thy-1 in the P.N.S. of adult rats was examined using immunohistochemical and experimental techniques. In the hypoglossal nerve the pattern of Thy-1 labelling suggested the antigen was on the plasma membrane of all axons, not only in their major myelinated course but also on their fine terminal branches and at the motor end plate itself. Similarly in other peripheral nerves examined [phrenic and vagus nerves, dorsal and ventral roots, and both the preganglionic and postganglionic trunks of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and the submandibular ganglion] Thy-1 was always associated with axons, but the resolution obtained with immunohistochemical techniques was not in itself sufficient to exclude the possibility that the antigen was on the surface of the ensheathing Schwann cell where it apposed the axons. However, in the hypoglossal nerve the antigen was found to accumulate proximal to a ligation of the nerve, suggesting it was made by the neurons and transported down the nerve by axoplasmic flow. This impression was supported by examining neuronal cell bodies in the SCG, dorsal root ganglia and submandibular ganglion, all of which contain readily detectable cytoplasmic Thy-1. In the SCG this cytoplasmic antigen was shown to include the pool of newly synthesized Thy-1. It was increased by treatment of the ganglion with colchicine, and decreased by cycloheximide. Conversely, treatment of hypoglossal nerve trunk with colchicine did not lead to the appearance of the antigen around the non-neuronal perikarya. It is therefore concluded that in those parts of the adult rat P.N.S. examined, Thy-1 is made by neurons and occurs generally on the plasma membrane of axons.

Differential regulation of a Thy-1 gene in transgenic mice.

“…In some experiments, thymocytes were divided into two aliquots, to one of which 15% Triton X-100 was added to 1% (wt/vol), and the lysed cells were diluted in 0.1% Triton X-100 in phosphate-buffered saline for assay (21). For immunohistochemistry, acetic acid/alcohol-fixed sections of brain (22) and acetone-fixed cryostat sections of lymphoid tissue were used, with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated OX7 F(ab')2 to visualize Thy-1.1 or 30-H12 followed by HRP-conjugated rat immunoglobulin-specific antibodies as a second layer for Thy-1.2. Endogenous peroxidase was blocked by a 30-min preincubation in 0.5% H202 in methanol.…”

“…T-lymphocyte subsets were identified by using rat monoclonal antibodies YTS 191 (to L3T4) and YTS 169.4 (to Lyt-2) (23). B lymphocytes were identified using HRP-conjugated rabbit anti-mouse IgG (22). Immunofluorescence-labeled lymphoid cells were counted under a fluorescence microscope, fixed in 1% formalin in phosphate-buffered saline at 4°C, and analyzed on an EPICS-C fluorocytometer (Coulter).…”

Sustained Axon–Glial Signaling Induces Schwann Cell Hyperproliferation, Remak Bundle Myelination, and Tumorigenesis

“…Here we show that, in contrast to type III-␤1a, in vivo overex- pression of type III-␤3 isoform (SMDF) does not increase myelin thickness in the PNS. Although these studies were performed using different promoter constructs (NSE and Thy1), given their broad neuronal expression in many neurons (Morris et al, 1983;Kollias et al, 1987;Forss-Petter et al, 1990;Vega et al, 1990) and their similar postnatal expression pattern (supplemental Fig. S9, available at www.jneurosci.org as supplemental material), these are probably bone fide differences in neuregulin isoform activity.…”

Monoclonal Antibodies for Diagnosis and Research in Enteric Nervous System Pathology

“…The thy-1 antigen has been demonstrated in the peripheral nervous system of rodents [Morris et al, 1983]. We observed mono clonal thy-1 immunoreactivity in the human ENS (unpublished observation).…”