Immunohistochemical localization of phosphonoglycosphingolipids in the nervous tissue of Aplysia.

A group of novel phosphonoglycosphingolipids was isolated from the tissues of Aplysia. In the present experiment, antiserum was raised against total phosphonoglycosphingolipids isolated from the ganglia. This antiserum seems specific to the oligosaccharide moiety of the glycolipids. It did not react with gangliosides isolated from mammalian brain. Of the total phosphonoglycosphingolipids of the ganglion. GGL-V was strongly reactive, but GGL-I was hardly reactive with the antiserum. The indirect immunoperoxidase method in combination with light microscopy revealed staining of fibrous structures in the neuropil of ganglia, connective tracts and peripheral nerves. These fibrous structures often interconnected with supporting cells (glia cells). However, the neuron and its processes were stained not distinctly. Thus our results indicate that some of the major glycolipids isolated from the ganglion are mainly present in extraneuronal components in the nervous tissues of Aplysia.