Tuula Karhunen

Distribution of catechol-O-methyltransferase enzyme in rat tissues.

In the present study we show the distribution of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) in various rat tissues with a highly specific antiserum prepared against recombinant rat COMT. Immunoprecipitation and immunocytochemical controls confirmed the COMT-specificity of the antibodies. The antiserum detected both the 24 KD soluble and the 28 KD membrane-bound forms of the enzyme. By immunohistochemical staining the COMT enzyme was found in most rat tissues. Staining was most intense in the liver and in the kidney, in agreement with previous studies and our immunoblotting results. In the gastrointestinal tract, epithelial cells of the stomach, duodenum, and ileum were immunoreactive for COMT. In pancreas, COMT immunoreactivity was found in insulin-producing beta-cells and somatostatin-producing D-cells but not in glucagon-producing alpha-cells of the islets of Langerhans. In pituitary, COMT immunoreactivity was found in cleft cells, in pituicytes of the posterior lobe, and in the anterior lobe, partly in the same cells containing luteinizing hormone (LH). In other endocrine organs, COMT immunoreactivity was found in epithelial cells of the thyroid gland and in zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex. In the brain, brightest immunofluorescence was seen in ependymal cells of the cerebral ventricles and choroid plexus. Weak to moderate immunofluorescence was found in the neuropil of several brain areas, including striatum and cortex. Scattered small neurons in spinal sensory ganglia were also COMT immunoreactive. Previous immunocytochemical studies, enzyme activity determinations, and distribution of the COMT mRNA are in general agreement with the results presented here. The wide distribution of COMT in different tissues suggests an important role for this protein in inactivation of catechol compounds.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) in rat brain: immunoelectron microscopic study with an antiserum against rat recombinant COMT protein

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.

Fall in intracellular pH mediated by GABAA receptors in cultured rat astrocytes

The influence of muscimol (a specific gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor agonist) on intracellular pH (pHi) was studied in cultured rat astrocytes by means of fluorescence spectrophotometry with BCECF as the H+ indicator. In an HCO3(-)-free medium, muscimol had little effect on pHi. In a solution containing 22 mM HCO3-, muscimol produced a reversible, concentration-dependent fall in pHi with a maximum of about 0.1-0.15 units. The muscimol-induced fall in pHi was antagonized by an increase in the external K+ concentration, which suggest that the acidosis is an immediate consequence of a net efflux of HCO3- through GABAA receptor channels rather than an indirect effect caused by a change in membrane potential. The present results raise the possibility that astrocytes may participate in the regulation of extracellular pH at GABAergic synapses and contribute to activity-induced pH changes in nervous tissue.

Neuronal and non-neuronal catechol-o-methyltransferase in primary cultures of rat brain cells

Previous biochemical and histochemical studies have suggested that catechol‐O‐methyltransferase (COMT) is a predominantly glial enzyme in the brain. The aim of this work was to study its localization and molecular forms in primary cultures, where cell types can be easily distinguished with specific markers. COMT immunoreactivity was studied in primary astrocytic cultures from newborn rat cerebral cortex, and in neuronal cultures from rat brain from 18‐day‐old rat embryos using antisera against rat recombinant COMT made in guinea pig. Double‐staining studies with specific cell markers to distinguish astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes were performed. COMT immunoreactivity colocalized with a specific oligodendrocyte marker galactocerebroside in cells displaying oligodendrocyte morphology, flat cells displaying type‐1 astrocyte morphology and glial fibrillary acidic protein, in branched cells displaying type‐2 astrocyte morphology and in cell bodies of neurons, the processes of which displayed neurofilament immunoreactivity. Western blots detected both soluble 24 kDa and membrane‐bound 28‐kDa COMT proteins in neuronal and astrocyte cultures. The results suggest that COMT is synthesized by cultured astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons.

Distribution of neuronal KCC2a and KCC2b isoforms in mouse CNS

The neuronal K‐Cl cotransporter KCC2 maintains the low intracellular chloride concentration required for the fast hyperpolarizing actions of inhibitory neurotransmitters in mature central nervous system (CNS). The KCC2 gene produces two isoforms, KCC2a and KCC2b, that differ in their N‐termini. Increase of KCC2b in the cortex underlies the developmental shift in γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic responses, whereas the physiological role of KCC2a is still poorly characterized. The two KCC2 isoforms show equal distribution in mouse brainstem neurons at birth; however their postnatal expression patterns, and the subcellular localization of KCC2a, have not yet been described. Here, we compared the pattern of KCC2a and KCC2b expression in different regions of postnatal mouse CNS by immunohistochemistry by using isoform‐specific antibodies. Tissue from KCC2a isoform‐specific knockout mice was used as a negative control. KCC2b expression increased postnatally and was widely expressed in adult brain. KCC2a immunoreactivity was low or absent in most parts of the adult cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellar cortex. Both isoforms were widely present in the developing and mature hypothalamus, a large part of the brainstem, and the spinal cord. A notable exception was the lack of KCC2a staining in the brainstem auditory system. At the subcellular level, the isoforms were only partially colocalized. In neuronal somas, KCC2b immunoreactivity was concentrated at the plasma membrane, whereas KCC2a signal was not. Moreover, although both isoforms were expressed in microtubule‐associated protein (MAP)2‐positive dendrites, they appeared in non‐overlapping dendritic compartments. The results, together with those of previous studies, suggest that KCC2a and KCC2b have overlapping roles in neonatal neurons but presumably different roles in mature neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:1897–1914, 2014.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase in rat sensory ganglia and spinal cord

The localization of catechol-O-methyltransferase immunoreactivity in rat dorsal root ganglia and in the spinal cord and its co-existence with substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide and fluoride-resistant acid phosphatase in dorsal root ganglion cells was examined with immunohistochemical and histochemical double-staining methods. Analysis of dorsal of dorsal root ganglia at both cervical and lumbar levels revealed catechol-O-methyltransferase immunoreactivity in numerous dorsal root ganglion cells. Double-staining studies showed that catechol-O-methyltransferase and substance P immunoreactivities were located in different cells with a few exceptions, whereas both catechol-O-methyltransferase and calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivities were detected in about 10% of all labeled cells positive for one of the two markers at both levels studied. The great majority of fluoride-resistant alkaline phosphatase-positive cells were also immunoreactive for catechol-O-methyltransferase. Again, no difference was found between cervical and lumbar levels. Catechol-O-methyltransferase immunoreactivity was also found in the neuropil of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The staining was most intense in the superficial laminae (I-III) and overlapped partly with substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity. Western blotting analysis revealed that soluble catechol-O-methyltransferase was the clearly dominating form of the enzyme in dorsal root ganglia. The distribution pattern of catechol-O-methyltransferase in dorsal horn and sensory neurons suggests that the enzyme may modulate sensory neurotransmission.

Endogenous Histamine in Cultured Bovine Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

Histamine releases catecholamines and opioids in primary cultured bovine adrenal medullary (BAM) chromaffin cells. We have studied whether histamine is synthesized and localized in BAM cells, and whether it can be released upon activation with secretagogues. In BAM cells histamine is immunohistochemically co‐localized with tyrosine hydroxylase in 45 ± 8% of all cells. Only histamine immunoreactivity was observed in 8 ± 2% of all BAM cells. No mast‐cell‐like cells were observed in our system. Histamine can be released from BAM cells by high potassium (56 mM K+) in a calcium‐dependent manner. Compound 48/80 did not release histamine from BAM cells but nicotine caused a dose‐dependent liberation of the amine. Cultured BAM cells have histidine decarboxylase activity which is inhibited by α‐fluoromethylhistidine. These results indicate that endogenous histamine is synthesized, stored and released in BAM chromaffin cells in vitro.

Increased neuronal histamine in thiamine-deficient rats

Previous studies have indicated that thiamine deficiency is associated with clearly elevated histamine concentrations in the rat hypothalamus, whereas other brain regions contain normal amounts of the amine. The purpose of this study was to find out if the increased hypothalamic histamine concentrations are due to increased numbers of mast cells or changes in neuronal histamine stores.Thiamine-deficiency was induced by daily injections of pyrithiamine until the animals lost the righting reflex. Control animals were pair-fed with either thiamine-deficient or normal thiamine-supplemented food. A significant increase in histamine concentration was observed in the hypothalamus and pons-medulla of the pyrithiamine-treated rats, but not in the cerebellum, thalamus, cerebral cortex or pituitary gland. Immunohistochemically, no histamine-containing mast cells were found in the hypothalami of the pyrithiamine-treated rats or control animals. The histaminergic tuberomammillary neurons were very intensely immunofluorescent, and the density of histamine-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the hypothalamus was also increased in the pyrithiamine-treated animals.The results indicate that in the brains of thiamine deficient rats increasing amounts of histamine accumulate in hypothalamic neurons.

Peptide GEGLSS-Like Immunoreactivity in the Rat Central Nervous System

A rabbit antiserum was raised against the N-terminal fragment peptide, GEGLSS (Gly-Glu-Gly-Leu-Ser-Ser) of bovine neuropeptide AF (NPAF, A18Famide). NPAF is an octadecapeptide isolated from the bovine brain together with neuropeptide FF (NPFF). GEGLSS-like immunoreactivity was localized with immunofluorescence technique in colchicine-treated rats in neuronal cell bodies of the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) hypothalamic nuclei. A few neurons were also observed in the retrochiasmatic part of the SON. GEGLSS-like immunoreactivity was also localized to nerve terminals of the posterior pituitary. No GEGLSS-ir neuronal cell bodies were observed in the medial hypothalamus, in an area that contains NPFF-ir neurons. GEGLSS immunoreactivity was also seen in the fibers and terminals of nucleus of the solitary tract. We injected a retrograde tracer, fluorogold, to the posterior pituitary gland and visualized GEGLSS-ir neuronal cell bodies double-labeled with the tracer in SON, PVN, and SOR. The pituitary stalk transsection totally abolished the GEGLSS-ir structures from the posterior pituitary. Our results suggest that GEGLSS immunoreactivity in the rat brain has a more limited distribution than NPFF immunoreactivity. GEGLSS immunoreactivity was partially colocalized with arginine-vasopressin and oxytocin in neuronal cell bodies in the SON and PVN. Considering the fact that the known rat NPFF-NPAF precursor does not contain GEGLSS structure, the detected GEGLSS immunoreactivity may be derived from a previously unknown precursor.

An immunohistochemical method for tele-methylhistamine

Histamine (HA) is metabolized by histamine-N-methyltransferase (HMT) to tele-methylhistamine (tmHA) in certain tissues. However, the cytochemical evidence for localization of HMT in most tissues is still lacking. In this study, antisera were prepared against tmHA to identify the cells that contain this metabolite. The results shows that the proximal tubules in the rat kidneys, neurons of the tuberomammillary nucleus of normal adult rat and mouse brain and nerve fibers in many brain areas of both species exhibited bright immunofluorescence with the tmHA-antisera. Preabsorption with the tmHA-conjugate abolished the reaction completely, whereas preabsorption with the HA-conjugate did not abolish the immunofluorescence. The results suggest that the method may be useful in identifying cells that contain tmHA and in indicating the sites where HA is metabolized to tmHA.