Golli-myelin basic proteins delineate the nerve distribution of lymphoid organs

The golli-myelin basic proteins (MBPs) have been known to mark the nerve fiber extensions in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the central nervous system. In this paper, we show that the nerve fibers revealed by neurofilament (NF) antibody staining in thymus and spleen, colocalized with golli in the capsular, trabecular (tr), and vasculature (v) systems. In the thymus, the density of these fibers was greater in the medulla than in the cortex. In the spleen, the golli immunoreactive fibers were seen within the capsule (ca), trabeculae, and along the artery tree, as well as the fine nerve fiber networks in the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALS). Golli immunoreactivity appeared to colocalize with ER-TR7, a putative marker of connective tissue in lymphoid organs. However, further examination by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry performed on golli "knock out" mice showed that the antigens recognized by these two antibodies were different. The reason for the apparent colocalization of golli and ER-TR7 appears to be due to the close physical association of nerve fibers with connective tissue in these organs. These results suggest that golli immunoreactivity can visualize the distribution of nerve fibers in these lymphoid organs.