Figure 1 | Scientific Reports

Figure 1

From: Ion exchanger in the brain: Quantitative analysis of perineuronally fixed anionic binding sites suggests diffusion barriers with ion sorting properties

Figure 1

Light micrograph (LM) and quantitative PIXE elemental images of two PN-ensheathed neurons in rat brainstem (7 μm thick section, PNs visualized using WFA-binding enhanced by DAB-Ni staining (grey-black pigment)).

(Ni) In the nickel map, PNs are visible due to the Ni-accumulation after immunohistochemical staining. (P) The phosphorus map mainly represents the distribution of the phosphate rich RNA and DNA, i.e. the Nissl substance in the neuronal cytoplasm and the nucleolus, but also glia cell nuclei. (S) The sulphur distribution reflects the extracellular matrix. Due to the sulfate rich chondroitin components of the PN the concentration is higher at the PN. (Fe) The iron map shows diffuse cytosolic and nuclear distribution and a prominent signal over the nucleolus. (Fe-P-Ni) In the three-element image of phosphorus (green), nickel (blue) and iron (red), iron can clearly be allocated to subcellular compartments delineated by the phosphorus image. Elemental profiles are given for the traverse through the PN ensheathed neuron. Scale bar: 20 μm, top concentration at the color scale in mM.

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