Karhunen T, Tilgmann C, Ulmanen I, Panula P
Department of Biology, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
Neurosci Lett. 1995 Feb 24;187(1):57-60. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(95)11337-v.
Localization of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) in rat cerebral cortex, neostriatum and cerebellar cortex was studied with preembedding immunoelectron microscopy using a specific antiserum raised against rat recombinant COMT protein. In all areas, immunoreactivity was found both in astrocytes and in neuronal processes. Reaction product was seen in the cytoplasm and in association with tubular structures of dendritic processes. Immunoreactivity was also located postsynaptically in dendritic spines and associated with the postsynaptic membrane. Strong immunoreaction was also seen in the cytoplasm of ependymal cells lining the ventricles, and in tanycytes in median eminence. The results suggest that postsynaptic dendritic spines and astrocytic processes may be the sites of catecholamine inactivation by COMT in rat brain.
利用针对大鼠重组儿茶酚-O-甲基转移酶（COMT）蛋白制备的特异性抗血清，通过包埋前免疫电子显微镜技术研究了COMT在大鼠大脑皮质、新纹状体和小脑皮质中的定位。在所有区域，均在星形胶质细胞和神经突中发现了免疫反应性。反应产物见于细胞质以及与树突状突起的管状结构相关联的部位。免疫反应性还位于树突棘的突触后部位并与突触后膜相关。在脑室衬里的室管膜细胞的细胞质以及正中隆起的伸长细胞中也可见到强免疫反应。结果表明，突触后树突棘和星形胶质细胞突起可能是大鼠脑中COMT使儿茶酚胺失活的部位。
