Immunocytochemical Localization of β-Citryl-L-glutamate in Primary Neuronal Cells and in the Differentiation of P19 Mouse Embryonal Carcinoma Cells into Neuronal Cells

Abstract

The immunocytochemical localization of β-citryl-L-glutamate (β-CG) in primary neuronal cells and in the differentiation of P19 cells was examined. 1 : Cells with the morphological features of neurons in the primary culture were specifically stained with the anti-β-CG antibody both in neurites and in the cell body. 2 : The neuronal cells differentiated from P19 cells were distinctly stained with the anti-β-CG antibody both in neurites and in the cell body, while the non-neuronal cells were not. 3 : The concentration of β-CG was low in the P19 cells, but increased significantly with the differentiation of P19 cells into neurons. It was shown that β-CG was localized exclusively in neurons. These findings suggest that β-CG plays functional roles in the differentiation and growth of neuron.