期刊名称:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN:0027-8424
电子版ISSN:1091-6490
出版年度:1974
卷号:71
期号:2
页码:269-273
DOI:10.1073/pnas.71.2.269
语种:English
出版社:The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要:Glutamate decarboxylase (L-glutamate l-carboxylase; EC 4.1.1.15 ), the enzyme in brain that forms {gamma}-aminobutyric acid, was made visible on sections of rat cerebellum by use of rabbit antiserum to purified mouse-brain glutamate decarboxylase. Cerebellar sections obtained from rats that were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde were treated with antiserum against the enzyme or with serum from unimmunized rabbits, washed, and then incubated with peroxidase-labeled goat antibody against rabbit immunoglobulin. The glutamate decarboxylase was made visible on sections by means of the product formed by the action of peroxidase on 3,3'-diaminobenzidine and H2O2. A weak and diffuse reaction was observed in Purkinje cell bodies, suggesting the occurrence of the enzyme within these cells. In addition, an intense, punctate deposition of reaction product was located around the Purkinje cells and around the neurons of the deep cerebellar nuclei, suggesting the impingement of many nerve terminals containing the enzyme upon these neuronal surfaces. No specific reaction product was observed in sections treated with serum from unimmunized rabbits. The distribution of glutamate decarboxylase observed in our preparations is consistent with a large body of indirect biochemical, physiological, and morphological data dealing with the synaptic role of {gamma}-aminobutyric acid neurons in the cerebellum.