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A Hafidi

Publications and source records attributed to A Hafidi.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Developmental differentiation of MAP2 expression in the central versus the peripheral and efferent projections of the inner ear.

The goal of this study was to extend our knowledge of MAP2 localization in the peripheral nervous system of mammals, since most results on MAP2 distribution are obtained in the central nervous system (CNS). This study shows the presence of microtubule-associated protein 2b (MAP2b) and MAP2c in the inner ear and describes the immunocytochemical distribution of MAP in adult and developing spiral ganglion of the rat by using a well-characterized antibody for MAP2a and MAP2b. (This antibody does not recognize the immature MAP2c). MAP2 labeling is already present in spiral ganglion neurons at 16 days of gestation. From this stage and up to the first postnatal week, MAP2 labeling was strong in all spiral ganglion neurons and their central processes. Double immunostaining at the 16-day stage with anti-MAP2 and anti-neurofilament (NF) antibodies mainly showed NF labeling in central branches that corresponded to anatomically and functionally described axons of spiral neurons. The peripheral branches lacked MAP2 labeling. In neonatal and postnatal stages, MAP2 reactivity was located in spiral ganglion perikarya and their neurites. The intensity of adult labeling was, however, lower than in younger animals. The antibody used in this study did not label axons originating in the CNS as seen by a negative response in efferent fibers from the intraganglionic spiral bundle of the cochlea. Our results suggest that during ontogenesis, MAP2 is highly expressed in the central projection of spiral ganglion neurons, and then is reduced to lower quantities in the central branch after the first postnatal week and persists into adulthood.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Immunohistochemical localization of nerve growth factor receptor in the cochlea and in the brainstem of the perinatal rat.

Nerve growth factor receptor (NGF-R) localization was studied immunohistochemically in the cochlea and in the brainstem of the perinatal rat, using a specific monoclonal antibody directed against the rat NGF-R. In the cochlea, NGF-R immunoreactivity is positive during the whole perinatal period studied, and is located at the hair cell level, in fibers that reach the organ of Corti, in the intraganglionic spiral bundle and in some small bundles of fibers in the auditory nerve. In the brainstem, NGF-R is detected in auditory structures such as the ventral cochlear nucleus, the superior olivary complex, the nuclei of the trapezoid body and the trapezoid body. Many auditory structures labelled by the NGF-R antibody are implicated in the efferent cochlear innervation. These results suggest that NGF could be implicated in interactions between auditory receptors and efferent innervation of the developing cochlea. This coincides with findings on the immunohistochemical localization of NGF-like protein in the organ of Corti of the developing rat. Moreover, these observations could be related to an early prenatal development of auditory efferent innervation.

Animals↗

Cochlear innervation in the developing rat: an immunocytochemical study of neurofilament and spectrin proteins.

We have studied the innervation of the developing cochlea by immunocytochemical staining of the cytoskeletal proteins, neurofilament (NF), and spectrin (brain spectrin and erythrocyte spectrin). NF immunoreactivity was seen in spiral ganglion cell bodies and their processes and in fibers of the intraganglionic spiral bundle (IGSB) on gestational day 16. NF immunoreactivity with monoclonal antibodies to NF160 and NF68 was present beneath both inner hair cells (the IHC) and outer hair cells (OHCs) on gestational day 20. NF200 immunostaining was located only in the IGSB and in fibers reaching the IHC. The first NF200 immunoreactivity beneath the OHCs was seen in the basal turn at birth. NF labelling began to decrease on postnatal day 9 and its intensity became more like that of the adult. Brain spectrin immunostaining was first seen in the IGSB of the basal turn on gestational day 18. It reached the fibers between the spiral ganglion and the IHC on gestational day 20. Brain spectrin immunoreactivity was first seen beneath the OHCs in the basal turn at birth. It reached all the OHCs of the cochlea by postnatal day 4, and began to decrease 9 days after birth. Erythrocyte spectrin immunostaining was first observed during the second postnatal week, when it labelled spiral ganglion cells. The distribution of NF200 and brain spectrin immunoreactivity suggested that efferent innervation of OHCs is present at birth in the rat, and confirms previous studies showing the early efferent innervation of the OHCs of the mouse and the rat at birth, and the time lag between the appearance of the two spectrin isoforms during development.

Aging↗

First appearance of type II neurons during ontogenesis in the spiral ganglion of the rat. An immunocytochemical study.

Ontogenesis of spiral ganglion in the rat was studied using antibodies to three subunits of neurofilaments (NFs): NF 68 KDa, NF 160 KDa and NF 200 KDa. The expression of immunoreactivity was examined with 3 immunocytochemical methods: indirect immunofluorescence, peroxidase-antiperoxidase and avidin-biotin complex. Aim of the study was to detect the time of differentiation of the spiral ganglion type II neurons. At 16 and 18 days of gestation, most neuron cell bodies express immunoreactivity to only two NF subunits: NF 68 and NF 160, but at birth they react with the antibodies to all 3 subunits albeit weakly. Nevertheless, a small population (about 7%) of nerve cells that strongly reacts against all 3 NF subunits emerges in the basal turn, already at 20 days of gestation. Two to 3 days after birth, the strongly stained cells are dispersed throughout the entire ganglion. The intensity of their reaction to the NF antibodies is similar to that seen in the adult animal. The strong immunoreactivity of this selective neuronal population suggest, that they correspond to the type II spiral ganglion neurons. Our results imply that the differentiation between the type I and the type II of spiral neurons in the rat occurs perinatally.

Aging↗

Neurofilament immunoreactivity in vestibular ganglion neurons of the adult rat.

Immunocytochemical methods were used to study the distribution of neurofilament (NF) proteins in vestibular ganglion neurons of the adult rat. Monoclonal antibodies against the three triplet proteins were used. By indirect immunofluorescence and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method, two populations of neurons were distinguished. One population with large perikarya showed strong NF immunoreactivity. A second population of neurons presented only slight or no immunoreactivity. The strong NF immunoreactivity in the perikarya of certain neurons seems to be a general feature of many sensory ganglia.

Animals↗

Immunocytochemical localization of neurofilament protein subunits in the spiral ganglion of the adult rat.

Spiral ganglion neurons from adult rats were treated with several monoclonal antibodies that react with neurofilaments (NFs) and NF subunits. An antibody against NFs used with immunocytochemical techniques showed a strong reaction with most neuron processes in the spiral ganglion, whereas only a few neurons presented a reaction. Using monoclonal antibodies against the 3 subunits, we obtained the same results with a small percentage of neurons labelled. From quantitative observations, reacting neurons showed the same percentage as and a smaller size than T II neurons observed with a more conventional method. This shows that reacting neurons are indeed T II neurons and that they can easily be differentiated by an accumulation of NFs in their perikaryon by well characterized commercially available antibodies.

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