TY  - JOUR
A1  - ,  
T1  - Expression of cellular prion protein (PrPc) in the rat central nervous system
JO  - Eur. J. Anat.
SN  - 1136-4890
Y1  - 2003
VL  - 7
SP  - 85
EP  - 90
UR  - http://www.eurjanat.com/web/paper.php?id=03020085
KW  - cell protein
KW  - cellular prion protein
KW  - prion protein
KW  - unclassified drug
KW  - adolescent
KW  - animal tissue
KW  - article
KW  - brain cortex
KW  - brain spongiosis
KW  - brain stem
KW  - central nervous system
KW  - fatal familial insomnia
KW  - forebrain
KW  - glia cell
KW  - immunocytochemistry
KW  - nitrergic nerve
KW  - nonhuman
KW  - protein expression
KW  - rat
KW  - thalamus dorsomedial nucleus
KW  - Western blotting
N2  - The localization of cellular prion protein in the central nervous system of adult rats is an important step not only for understanding its biology, but also to gain a better understanding of the propagation of pathogenic prion protein within the central nervous system in spongiform encephalopathies. Here, the expression of cellular prion protein is studied by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting techniques. The presence of the protein varied in the rostrocaudal direction: it was less abundant in the brainstem than in prosencephalon. PrPc-positive cells were especially abundant in the cerebral cortex. The immunoreaction was present in areas projecting to the intermediate band of the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus and the anteroventral nucleus of the thalamus. Some immunopositive neurons, glial cells, and fibres were located around vessels in areas where nitrergic activity is well documented. Our findings lead us again to propose a retrograde propagation of altered prion proteins in human spongiform encephalopathies such as fatal familial insomnia, followed by an alteration of the nitrergic systems. Moreover, destruction of the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus in fatal familial insomnia may unleash an alteration of prion and nitrergic physiology.
ER  -