D-aspartate localization in the rat pituitary gland and retina

Brain Res. 1999 Aug 14;838(1-2):193-9. doi: 10.1016/s0006-8993(99)01718-7.

Abstract

Rat pituitary gland and retina were probed with anti-D-aspartate (D-Asp) antibody previously prepared in this laboratory [Lee et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 231 (1997) 505-508]. D-Asp immunoreactivity (IR) was observed only in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland of 3-day-old rats, whereas the anterior and posterior lobes were also positive in 3-week and 6-week-old rats, respectively. In the anterior lobe, intense IR was scattered throughout the lobe and the D-Asp-positive cells appeared to be prolactin-containing cells or some other very closely related type of cell. In the retina, D-Asp IR was observed only in the ganglion cell and nerve fiber region of 3-day-old rats. In contrast, during the transient increase in D-Asp levels in 7-day-old rats, D-Asp IR was additionally evident in regions where differentiating bipolar cells had begun to make contact with other types of cells. The functional relevance of D-Asp localization in these tissues is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid / analysis*
  • Injections, Intraperitoneal
  • Male
  • Pituitary Gland, Anterior / chemistry*
  • Pituitary Gland, Posterior / chemistry*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Retina / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Aspartic Acid