Polyamine-like immunoreactivity in rat neurons.

The localization of polyamine (PA) pools in motor, sensory, and autonomic neurons and in the nerve cells of the hypothalamo-hypophysial system of rats was examined by immunocytochemical method using the monoclonal antibody ASPM-29 specific to spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spd) fixed in situ. Strong PA immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm and dendrites of the large perikaryon of motor neurons in the anterior spinal column, in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, in the pyramidal cells of the cerebrum, in the nerve cells of the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei in the hypothalamus, and in the nerve cells of the spinal and autonomic ganglions. No PA immunoreactivity was seen in the nucleus and nerve terminals of the neurons. The PA immunoreactivities in the motor and sensory neurons were characterized by clustered masses and blocks of immunoreactive cells. Irrespective of location, small and medium-sized neurons were weakly PA-positive. The glia cells, some stellite cells, and Schwann cells were almost completely PA-negative. These results may suggest that in neurons PAs are not transported axonally, but are located in conjunction with Nissl bodies (the rough endoplasmic reticulum), specified as sites for protein synthesis within cells.