Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 272, Issue 1, 3 September 1999, Pages 9-12
Neuroscience Letters

Expression of the prion protein in the rat forebrain – an immunohistochemical study

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(99)00563-7Get rights and content

Abstract

The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is crucial for the development of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), where the pathogenic scrapie isoform (PrPSc) of the same protein, is considered to be the principal or sole infectious agent. Here, we report findings on PrPC expression in the rat forebrain, using immunohistochemical techniques on free floating sections of 60 μm thickness. Along with neurons and astrocytes in the gray matter, PrPC was detected for the first time in glial cells of the white matter and in cells of circumventricular organs. PrPC positive cellular processes were also found to be closely associated with intraparenchymal blood vessels, often in the form of end feet. Interestingly, PrPC expression was observed in areas where PrPSc deposition in late stages of infection has been earlier reported in the rat and other species.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the BIOMED II 96-1185 (co-ordinator Professor J. Collinge) programme and partially funded by the General Secretary for Research and Technology (PENED A/A 1165) of the Greek Government. We are also grateful to Mrs. Maria Hiotelli for valuable technical support.

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