Kaplan G P, Hartman B K, Creveling C R
Brain Res. 1979 May 11;167(2):241-50. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(79)90819-9.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)(EC 2.1.1.6) was localized using fluorescence immunohistochemistry in rat liver and kidney and in rat, chinchilla, and bovine brains. In the brain, specific fluorescence was visable only in non-neuronal cellular elements in all three species. Ventricular ependymal cells and cells of the choroid plexuses exhibited the greatest intensity of immunofluorescence. Glial immunofluorescence appeared prominently in large myelinated fiber tracts. Interfascicular and perineuronal satellite oligodendrocytes as well as fibrous astrocytes were immunoreactive, though myelin itself did not exhibit a positive reaction. Bergmann glial cells in the cerebellum also stained brightly for COMT. Although this study indicates that the predominant localization of COMT is non-neuronal, it is important to note that the presence of small quantities of this enzyme in neurons cannot be excluded. The patterns of localization observed in the non-neuronal elements suggest that this enzyme may function as a barrier to free diffusion of catechol compounds within the central nervous system.
使用荧光免疫组织化学方法，在大鼠肝脏、肾脏以及大鼠、绒鼠和牛的大脑中对儿茶酚-O-甲基转移酶（COMT）（EC 2.1.1.6）进行了定位。在大脑中，仅在所有这三个物种的非神经元细胞成分中可见特异性荧光。脑室室管膜细胞和脉络丛细胞呈现出最强的免疫荧光强度。神经胶质免疫荧光在大型有髓纤维束中显著出现。束间和神经元周围卫星少突胶质细胞以及纤维性星形胶质细胞具有免疫反应性，尽管髓鞘本身未呈现阳性反应。小脑中的伯格曼胶质细胞对COMT也有明亮的染色。尽管这项研究表明COMT的主要定位是非神经元性的，但必须注意不能排除神经元中存在少量这种酶的可能性。在非神经元成分中观察到的定位模式表明，这种酶可能作为儿茶酚化合物在中枢神经系统内自由扩散的屏障发挥作用。
