Specific differential expression of phospholipase A2 subtypes in rat cerebellum.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a family of enzymes playing diverse roles in lipid signaling in neurons and glia cells. In this study, we examined the expression of subtypes of PLA2 in the cerebellum using immunolabeling and in situ hybridization methods. Two Ca2+-dependent cytosolic subtypes (cPLA2alpha and cPLA2beta), one Ca2+-independent cytosolic subtype (iPLA2), and two secretory subtypes (sPLA2IIA and sPLA2V) were detected in the cerebellum. cPLA2alpha is present in somata and dendrites of Purkinje cells, while sPLA2IIA is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum in perinuclear regions of Purkinje cell somata. iPLA2 is present in granule cells, stellate cells and also in the nucleus of Purkinje cells. In addition, cPLA2beta is localized in granule cells, and sPLA2V in Bergmann glia cells. These results provide an important basis for identifying functional roles of PLA2s in the cerebellum.