Distribution of metallothionein I + II and vesicular zinc in the developing central nervous system: Correlative study in the rat

摘要: Because zinc (Zn) is a co-factor in enzymes and participates neurotransmission, it essential for brain development. However, because excess Zn may cause neuronal injury, cerebral mechanisms regulation must operate. The metallothionein isoforms I II (MT + II) are putative candidates chelating unbound released from Zn-containing nerve terminals or transported into the brain. Whether vesicular MT occur identical regions of developing unknown. Accordingly, developmental distribution was mapped. By using double-labeling fluorescence histochemistry, immunoreactivity (ir) attributed to astrocytes cells myelomonocytic lineage. lineage shared morphology monocytes macrophages but not microglia occurred primarily around vessels ventricles brainstem. contrast, were widespread throughout In embryonic neonatal brain, IIir almost selectively observed septum fascia dentate hilus (hi) hippocampus. With increasing postnatal age, they also hippocampal cortex, basal forebrain, neocortex, cerebellar cranial nuclei. mRNAs detected that displayed IIir, indicating transcriptional events. Vesicular recorded solely hi amount increased hippocampus other forebrain regions. presence proteins confirmed by radioimmunoassay. regional astrocytic suggests implicated metabolism forebrain. J. Comp. Neurol. 412:303–318, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.