DISTRIBUTION OF ACETYLCHOLINE-RECEPTORS IN THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEMOF ADULT LOCUSTS

A polyclonal antibody raised against nicotinic acetylcholine receptor protein from purified locust neuronal membrane was used to analyse the distribution of antigenic sites within the central nervous system of adult Schistocerca gregaria. Light microscopic examination showed that all principal neuropiles in the thoracic ganglia label with the antib ody but that the major tracts and commissures do not. Analysis of this pattern of staining in the electron microscope reveals that the recep tor is present on specific synaptic and extrajunctional neuronal membr anes in the neuropile. Antigenic sites are also evident on the plasma membranes and within the cytoplasm adjacent to Golgi complexes of some neuronal somata, suggesting that these neurones synthesise nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In addition to neuronal labelling, there is e vidence that the receptor is also present on the membranes of three ty pes of glial cells. The implications of this pattern of receptor distr ibution are discussed. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.