Immunocytochemical localization of S-100 protein in the brain of adult rat

Abstract

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.

Differential response of three astrocyte-specific proteins to fimbrial transection of the rat brain: Immunohistochemical observations with antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein, glutamine synthetase and S-100 protein.

“…In the intact rat brain S-100-LI astrocytes are not always positive for GFAP (4,6,19,22). Glutamine synthetase is also intensely localized in astrocytes but only those in particular regions of the CNS (13,24).…”

“…GFAP is the glial type of intermediate filament and is richly distributed in reactive astrocytes (2,5,12), while S-100 is a cytoplasmic Cat-binding protein which is considered to regulate the metabolic or morphological aspects of astrocytes (4,5). GS is a rather more `specific' protein than other two proteins, because its distribution in the CNS is very prominent in several regions such as the septum nucleus or the hippocampal formation (24).…”

Immunohistochemical study of sustentacular cells in adrenal medulla of neonatal and adult rats using an antibody against S-100 protein

“…Astrocytes of the central nervous system, satellite cells of the peripheral ganglia, and Schwann cells are immunoreactive for S-100 protein [2,20]. This protein has, therefore, been regarded as a common marker for glial cells, including Schwann cells [9].…”

Immunohistochemical demonstration of the nerves in human dental pulp with antisera against neurofilament protein and glia-specific S-100 protein.

“…On the other hand, S-100 protein is contained in astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and ependymal cells of the central nervous system, as well as in Schwann cells and satellite cells of the peripheral nervous system (LUDWIN et al, 1976;COcCHIA and MICHETTI, 1981;STEFANSSON et al, 1982). Immunohistochemistry using antisera against the neuron and glia-specific proteins has been shown to be a useful tool for identifying neuronal and glial elements and their derivatives (LUDwIN et al, 1976;SCHLAEPFER and LYNCH, 1977;COCCHIA, 1981;COCCHIA and MICHETTI, 1981;STEFANSSON et al, 1982;FUJITA et al, 1983). The present study reports the applicability of immunohistochemical techniques using NFP and S-100 antisera to the study of human dental pulp.…”