Synaptic localisation of agmatinase in rat cerebral cortex revealed by virtual pre-embedding

Amino Acids. 2012 Sep;43(3):1399-403. doi: 10.1007/s00726-011-1195-5. Epub 2011 Dec 13.

Abstract

Light microscopic evidence suggested a synaptic role for agmatinase, an enzyme capable of inactivating the putative neurotransmitter and endogenous anti-depressant agmatine. Using electron microscopy and an alternative pre-embedding approach referred to as virtual pre-embedding, agmatinase was localised pre- and postsynaptically, to dendritic spines, spine and non-spine terminals, and dendritic profiles. In dendritic spines, labelling displayed a tendency towards the postsynaptic density. These results further strengthen a synaptic role for agmatine and strongly suggest a regulatory role for synaptically expressed agmatinase.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dendritic Spines / enzymology*
  • Dendritic Spines / ultrastructure
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Parietal Lobe / enzymology*
  • Parietal Lobe / ultrastructure
  • Plastic Embedding*
  • Rats
  • Rhodamines / chemistry
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Synapses / enzymology*
  • Synapses / ultrastructure
  • Ureohydrolases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Rhodamines
  • tetramethylrhodamine
  • Ureohydrolases
  • agmatinase