ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Monoclonal antibody
;
Blood-brain barrier
;
Cerebral pericytes
;
Transporting epithelia
;
Rat
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary A monoclonal antibody that recognizes a 140 kDa peripheral plasma membrane protein in pericytes of nervous tissues of the rat is described. Microvessels of brain cortex and perineurium of peripheral nerves are shown to react positively to this antibody. The antigen is absent in brain regions that lack a blood-brain barrier, i.e., choroid plexuses and area postrema. Antigen expression starts as early as day 18 of embryonic development. By means of immuno-electron microscopy the 140 kDa antigen was detected as clusters along the entire circumference of cerebral pericytes. The same antigenic determinant is also expressed in apical domains of plasma membranes of a variety of transporting epithelia, such as hepatocytes, enterocytes of the small intestine, and epithelial cells of proximal tubules of the kidney. We postulate the 140 kDa protein as being a constituent of the pericytes involved in regulative functions of the blood-brain barrier.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00216641
