Summary
The cellular and subcellular distribution of the nervous system-specific S-100 protein has been investigated in the brain of adult rat at the ultrastructural level by the pre-embedding unlabelled antibody PAP method. The protein is found in both fibrous and protoplasmic astrocytes and in the ependymal cells. The neurons, the oligodendrocytes as well as the microglial cells are lacking S-100. The labelled cells show a reaction product diffusely distributed in the cytoplasmic matrix and on specialized membranes, namely plasma membranes, outer mitochondrial membranes and membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. The astrocytic filaments and the axonemes of the ependymal cilia exhibit a strong immunoreactivity. The reaction product is also present in the nucleoplasm of the astrocytes and ependymal cells but it is absent from the nucleolus and nuclear envelope. This immunocytochemical data on tissue with satisfactory ultrastructural preservation, provides new information on the localization of the S-100 protein, and could contribute to the understanding of the biological role of the protein.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bock E (1978) Nervous system specific proteins. J Neurochem 30:7–14
Cicero TJ, Provine RR (1972) The levels of the brain-specific proteins, S-100 and 14–3–2, in the developing chick spinal cord. Brain Res 44:294–298
Davis BJ (1964) Disc-electrophoresis. II. Method and application to human serum proteins. Ann NY Acad Sci 121:404–427
Donato R, Michetti F, Miani N (1975) Soluble and membrane-bound S-100 protein in cerebral cortex synaptosomes. Properties of the S-100 receptor. Brain Res 98:561–573
Haglid KG, Stavrou D (1973) Water soluble and pentanol extractable proteins in human brain normal tissue and human tumours, with special reference to S-100 protein. J Neurochem 20:1523–1532
Haglid KG, Hamberger A, Hansson HA, Hydén H, Persson L, Rönnbäck L (1976) Cellular and subcellular distribution of the S-100 protein in rat and rabbit central nervous system. J Neurosci Res 2:175–191
Harboe N, Ingild A (1973) Immunization, isolation of immunoglobulins, estimation of antibody titre. Scand J Immunol Suppl Vol 2:161–164
Herschman HR, Levine L, DeVellis J (1971) Appearance of a brain-specific antigen (S-100 protein) in the developing rat brain. J Neurochem 18:629–633
Hydén H, McEwen BS (1966) A glial protein specific for the nervous system. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 55:354–358
Isobe T, Nakajima T, Okuyama T (1977) Reinvestigation of extremely acidic proteins in bovine brain. Biochim Biophys Acta 494:222–232
Isobe T, Tsugita A, Okuyama T (1978) The aminoacid sequence and the subunit structure of bovine brain S-100 protein (PAPI-b). J Neurochem 30:921–923
Levine L, Moore BW (1965) Structural relatedness of a vertebrate brain acidic protein as measured immunochemically. Neurosci Res Prog Bull 3:18–23
Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275
Ludwin SK, Kosek JC, Eng LF (1976) The topographical distribution of S-100 protein and GFA proteins in the adult rat brain: an immunohistochemical study using horseradish peroxidase labelled antibodies. J Comp Neurol 165:197–208
Mahadik SP, Korenovsky A, Rapport MM (1979a) Heterogeneity of S-100 proteins of brain: subunit compositions. J Neurochem 33:751–762
Mahadik SP, Graf L, Korenovsky A, Rapport MM (1979b) Immunochemical properties of S-100 proteins and their subunits. J Neurochem 33:763–771
Matus A, Mughal S (1975) Immunohistochemical localization of S-100 protein in brain. Nature 258:746–748
Michetti F, Miani N, DeRenzis G, Caniglia A, Correr S (1974) Nuclear localization of S-100 protein. J Neurochem 22:239–244
Michetti F, DeRenzis G, Donate R, Miani N (1976) Brain-specific effect of the S-100 protein on the RNA-polymerase/activity in isolated nuclei. Brain Res 105:372–375
Moore B W (1965) A soluble protein characteristic of the nervous system. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 19:739–744
Møller M, Ingild A, Bock E (1978) Immunohistochemical demonstration of S-100 protein and GFA protein in interstitial cells of the rat pineal gland. Brain Res 140:1–13
Ornstein L (1964) Disc-electrophoresis. I. Background and theory. Ann NY Acad Sci 121:321–349
Rusca G, Calissano P, Alemà S (1972) Identification of a membrane-bound fraction of the S-100 protein. Brain Res 49:223–227
Sternberger LA, Hardy Jr PH, Cuculis JJ, Meyer HG (1970) The unlabelled antibody enzyme method of immunohistochemistry. Preparation and properties of soluble antigen-antibody complex (horse radish peroxidase-antihorseradish peroxidase) and its use in identification of spirochetes. J Histochem Cytochem 18:315–333
Sviridov SM, Korochkin LI, Ivanov VN, Maletskaya EI, Bakhtina TK (1972) Immunohistochemical studies of S-100 protein during postnatal ontogenesis of the brain of two strains of rats. J Neurochem 19:713–718
Tabuchi K, Kirsch WM, Nakane PK (1976) The fine structural localization of S-100 protein in rodent cerebellum. J Neurol Sci 28:65–76
Varon SS, Somjen GG (1979) Neuron-glia interactions. Neurosci Res Progr Bull Vol 17: n∘ 1
Wenger B, Friedman H (1970) S-100 protein in embryonic chick retinae. Nature 228:1214
Zuckerman JE, Herschman HR, Levine L (1970) Appearance of a brain specific antigen (the S-100 protein) during human foetal development. J Neurochem 17:247–251
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cocchia, D. Immunocytochemical localization of S-100 protein in the brain of adult rat. Cell Tissue Res. 214, 529–540 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233493
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233493