Eur J Anat, 7 (2): 85-90 (2003)

Expression of cellular prion protein (PrPc) in the rat central nervous system

Moleres F.J., Castle M., Velayos J.L.

Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Navarra, C/ Irunlarrea s/n, 31008 Pamplona, Spain

ABSTRACT 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.

Keywords: cell protein, cellular prion protein, prion protein, unclassified drug, adolescent, animal tissue, article, brain cortex, brain spongiosis, brain stem, central nervous system, fatal familial insomnia, forebrain, glia cell, immunocytochemistry, nitrergic nerve, nonhuman, protein expression, rat, thalamus dorsomedial nucleus, Western blotting