A SUBPOPULATION OF CHICKEN PRIMARY SENSORY NEURONS DEFINED BY COMPLETE COLOCALIZATION OF PERIPHERIN-IMMUNOREACTIVITY AND OVALBUMIN-IMMUNOREACTIVITY

In a previous study, we have demonstrated that an ovalbumin-like antig en is present within approximately one-half of all neurons of chicken spinal ganglia. The current study demonstrates this antigen co-localiz es absolutely with neural intermediate filament protein (Peripherin) i n small to medium-sized neurons of spinal ganglia. While the function of ovalbumin in neurons is unknown, its precise co-localization with P eripherin suggests a functional role restricted to neurons of a define d phenotype.