Distribution Of Immunoreactive Structure Of NF Gene Product In Rat Brain Studied By Immunohistochemistry

To provide more morphological data for studying function of neurofibromatosis (NF) gene in nervous system, the distribution of immunoreactive structure of two NF gene products, Neurofibromin (coded by NF1 gene) and Merlin (coded by NF2 gene), in the rat brain, were investigated in ten adult SD rats. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry (ABC method) were employed separately to demonstrate Neurofibromin using rabbit anti-neurofibromin serum and Merlin using rabbit anti-Merlin serum.Result: (1) Intense neurofibromin labeling cells were found predominately in the cerebral cortex, the field CA1-CA3 of ammon's horn, the dentate gyrus, the anterior nuclear group of thalamus, .the medial nuclear group of thalamus, the midline nuclear group of thalamus, the periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, and the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus. Moderate neurof ibromin labeling cells were found in the amygdala, the anterior hypothalamic area, the lateral hypothalamic area, the posterior hypothalamic area, and the purkinje layer of cerebellum. Weakly labeling cells were also found in the caudate putamen, the claustrum, the globus pallidus, the medial habenular nucleus, the lateral habenular nucleus, the lateral geniculate nucleus, the medial geniculate nucleus, the lateral septal nucleus, the medial septal nucleus, the nucleus of the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve, the dorsal cochlear nucleus, the ventral cochlear nucleus, the superior vestibularnucleus, the medial vestibular nucleus, and the gigantocellular reticular nucleus.(2) Intense merlin labeling cells were found in the cerebral cortex, amygdala, the anterior nuclear group of thalamus, the medial nuclear group of thalamus, the midline nuclear group of thalamus, the medial vestibular nucleus, and the granular layer of cerebellum cortex. Moderate labeling cells were found in the hippocampal formation, the lateral septal nucleus, the medial septal nucleus, the periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus. Weakly labeling cells were found in the caudate putamen, the claustrum, globus pallidus, the lateroanterior hypothalamic nucleus, the dorsal hypothalamic nucleus, the nucleus of the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve, the superior vestibular nucleus, the spinal vestibular nucleus, the oculomotor nuclei, and the gigantocellular reticular nucleus.(3)Both neurofibromin and merlin immunoreactivities were observed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of neurons, Whereas, neither neurofibromin nor merlin signal could be found in the neuroglial cell.It is concluded that there is a wide distribution of neurofibromin and merlin in the rat brain, with different intensity showing in different area of the brain and between the neurons and neuroglial cells. This study provided morphological base for further study of the function of NF gene.