Localization of verotoxin receptors in nervous system

We use immunohistochemistry to show the existence of verotoxin receptor in small sensory neurons in DRG of human, rabbit, rat and mouse. In capillary in nervous system, the verotoxin receptor exists in human and rabbit, but t he receptor could not be demonstrated in rat and mouse, by this method. The receptors in sensory neuron of rat and in capillary in rabbit brain are de termined as galactosylglobotriaosylceramide (GalGb(3)) and globotriaosylcer amide (Gb(3),), respectively. Although verotoxin was reported to bind to gl ycolipid receptors that possess the terminal disaccharide Gal alpha 1-4Gal beta (galactobiose), the binding to toxin to galabiosylceramide was half of that of GalGb(3) which has galactobiose internally. (C) 1999 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.