CELLULAR-DISTRIBUTION OF TRANSFERRIN IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN THE DEVELOPING RAT-BRAIN

Abstract

The cellular distribution of immunoreactive transferrin has previously been studied in adult rat brain with the conclusion that transferrin is largely confined to oligodendrocytes, although studies in the developing rodent brain indicated some staining of neurons. Detailed investigations of a wider range of ages than studied earlier have shown that in the developing rat brain, transferrin is not only present in oligodendrocytes but also in other glial cell types and in neurons and endothelial cells. The preponderant cell type which is positive for transferrin and its regional distribution are, however, related to the age of the animal except in most circumventricular organs in which strong t..