B-50 GAP43 LOCALIZATION ON MEMBRANES OF PUTATIVE TRANSPORT VESICLES IN THE CELL BODY, NEURITES AND GROWTH CONES OF CULTURED HIPPOCAMPAL-NEURONS/

We conducted an electron microscopic immunocytochemical study to locat e B-50/GAP43 in various cellular elements of hippocampal neurons grown in dissociated cell culture. B-50 was detected with pre- and post-emb edding immunoincubation, using affinity-purified B-50 antibodies and s econdary antibodies coated on gold probes. For the first time ultrastr uctural evidence is presented for the location of B-50 on the membrane s of electron-lucent transport vesicles with a diameter of 99.4 +/- 2. 9 nm, present in the trans region of the Golgi apparatus, in neurites and in growth cones of cultured hippocampal neurons.