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Nucleophosmin, Coilin, and Argentophilic (AgNOR) Proteins in the Neurons of Human Substantia Nigra

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Abstract

The aim of the work was to study the intranuclear distribution of nucleophosmin (B23), coilin (p80), AgNOR proteins, and nonheme iron in the neurons of the human substantia nigra. Fragments of the human midbrain (n = 10) were shown to have no signs of neurodegeneration. The material was fixed in zinc–ethanol–formaldehyde, a special fixative that provides high preservation of antigenic determinants and tissue structures. This work revaled a new data on molecular and structural organization of the nucleoli of neurons in human substantia nigra. It was found that, in the nuclei of substantia nigra neurons, there is only one large nucleolus, and its size varies between individuals (from 4.2 ± 0.4 to 6.2 ± 0.6 μm in diameter). Nucleophosmin is concentrated solely in the nucleolus and is unevenly distributed in it. Cajal bodies found in the nucleus of most substantia nigra neurons are coiline-containing structures of round or oval shape and about 1 μm in size. Coilin accumulation has also been noted in numerous intranuclear microstructures, which significantly differ in their localization and morphological characteristics from typical Cajal bodies. AgNOR proteins are present in the substantia nigra neurons and are very variably distributed. Nonheme iron was detected in the nucleoli ofof some substantia nigra neurons. In some cases iron was concentrated in the giant fibrillar center (GFC). The data obtained will contribute to a clearer understanding of the role of nucleolar proteins in the functioning of dopaminergic neurons in the human brain and the determination of molecular sensors of nucleolar stress observed during neurodegeneration.

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Funding

This work was carried out as part of a state order to the Institute of Experimental Medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Experimental Medicine, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia

    V. V. Guselnikova, D. A. Sufieva & D. E. Korzhevsky

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  1. V. V. Guselnikova
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  2. D. A. Sufieva
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  3. D. E. Korzhevsky
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Correspondence to V. V. Guselnikova.

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Conflict of interest. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Statement of compliance with standards of research involving humans as subjects. This work was performed in accordance with ethical standards and approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Institute of Experimental Medicine, extract from protocol no. 58–9/1-684 dated December 11–12, 2009.

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Abbreviations: DOPA—L-dioxiphenylalanine, DFC—dense fibrillar component of the nucleolus (dense fibrillar component), FC—fibrillar center of the nucleolus (fibrillar center), GC—granular component of the nucleolus (granular component), GFC–giant fibrillar center of the nucleolus (giant fibrillar center), snRNA—small nuclear RNA (small nuclear RNA), snoRNP—small nucleolar ribonucleoproteins (small nucleolar RNP), UBF—nucleolar transcription factor (upstream binding factor).

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Guselnikova, V.V., Sufieva, D.A. & Korzhevsky, D.E. Nucleophosmin, Coilin, and Argentophilic (AgNOR) Proteins in the Neurons of Human Substantia Nigra. Cell Tiss. Biol. 14, 380–387 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1990519X20050041

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1990519X20050041

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