Light (LM) and electron (EM) microscopic immunocytochemical methods were used to study the distribution of @entity7131 ( @entity7131 ) isozymes in adult @entity35 optic nerves. In cryostat and vibratome sections examined by LM, @entity1605 (beta) isozyme was localized almost exclusively in the axons. In the EM, immunoreaction products were found to associate with microtubules and neurofilaments. The inner surface of axonal membranes were occasionally stained. Analysis of @entity7131 isozyme composition of the optic nerves by using immunoblot techniques revealed that @entity1605 (beta) isozyme accounted for approximately 80% of the total immunoreactivity. By contrast, type III (alpha) isozyme, which accounted for the remaining 20% of @entity7131 , was found mainly in the astrocytes. Astrocytic processes next to blood vessels and between myelinated axons were stained. In the EM, immunoreaction products were found in the cytoplasm and along astroglial filaments. Segments of plasma membranes also were stained; but nuclei were unstained. Adult glial cells were not stained by an antibody to @entity1605 (beta) isozyme except for the occurrence of a few punctate cytoplasmic densities in occasional astrocytes. Very faint or no immunostaining was observed in sections treated with a monoclonal antibody to type I (gamma) isozyme. Immunoblot analyses also did not reveal this subspecies. The absence of type I (gamma) isozyme in optic nerves is not due to a down-regulation of the enzyme during development. In developing (5 and 11 day) @entity35 , immunoreactivity of @entity7131 was very faint or absent. After 15 days, reaction products of both type III (alpha) and @entity1605 (beta) isozymes were found throughout the nerve. These findings suggest that @entity1605 (beta) isozyme may be involved in axonal transport whereas type III (alpha) isozyme may play a role in some astrocyte functions in mature optic nerves.

Distribution of XXXX isozymes in @entity35 optic nerves.

@entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rat', 'rats'] @entity1605 :: ('OMIM:217000', 'Disease') :: ['type II'] @entity7131 :: ('MESH:D020151', 'Disease') :: ['protein kinase C', 'PKC']
@entity7131 :: (MESH:D020151,Disease) :: ['protein kinase C']
