Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 8, 1846-1851, Copyright © 1988 by Society for Neuroscience
Light and electron microscope localization of the microtubule- associated tau protein in rat brain
A Migheli, M Butler, K Brown and ML Shelanski
Department of Pathology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York 10032.
We have studied the distribution of microtubule-associated tau proteins in
rat brain using monoclonal and affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies. Tau
staining is prominent in axons in white matter areas of brain, as reported
by Binder et al. (1985). In addition, we also find tau protein in neuron
cell bodies, especially in the brain stem and basal ganglia and in the cell
bodies of interfascicular oligodendroglia. Using electron microscopy, tau
antibodies and colloidal gold-labeled second antibodies, gold particles are
found associated with microtubules in axons and in the cytoplasm of cell
bodies, while the nuclei, mitochondria, and myelin remain unlabeled. In
double-staining experiments, tau staining co-localizes with that of
tubulin. Our studies indicate that tau proteins are more widely distributed
in brain than previously reported and cannot be used as an exclusive marker
for axons.
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