Electron microscopic localization of Nogo-A at the postsynaptic active zone of the rat

Neurosci Lett. 2003 Aug 7;346(3):153-6. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00508-1.

Abstract

Our previous study has demonstrated intraneuronal localization of Nogo-A in motoneurons of the adult rat spinal cord. In the present study, we wished to explore Nogo-A immunoreactivity at synapses using pre-embedding and post-embedding immunogold cytochemistry. Immunogold particles for Nogo-A could be identified in dendrites of the spinal cord motoneurons. Some Nogo-A immunogold particles were found in close apposition to the postsynaptic density and the postsynaptic dense bodies at both symmetric and asymmetric synapses. The present finding of Nogo-A at the postsynaptic active zone provides a morphological basis for the possibility that the Nogo-A-Nogo receptor system may contribute to structural plasticity at synapses as well as along the axonal pathway.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism
  • Motor Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Myelin Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord / ultrastructure
  • Synapses / metabolism*

Substances

  • Myelin Proteins
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Rtn4 protein, rat