Intraneuronal IgG in the central nervous system: uptake by retrograde axonal transport

The uptake of immunoglobins by CNS neurons was studied in rats. Rats were injected IP with solutions containing large amounts of rabbit IgG. Immunocytochemical staining of sections of the neuraxis revealed uptake of rabbit IgG by motor neurons of the CNS with axons projecting outside of the blood-brain barrier, including ventral horn motor neurons and cranial nerve motor nuclei neurons as well as in neurons projecting to the hypothalamus and area postrema. Staining was also noted in certain large neurons of the reticular formation and in Purkinje cells, as well as diffusely in the hypothalamus, area postrema, the pia mater, and associated vasculature and larger penetrating vessels. Uptake of rabbit IgG by lumbar spinal cord motor neurons projecting to the sciatic nerve was prevented by ligation of the sciatic nerve. These experiments support the hypothesis that certain central neurons take up immunoglobins from the periphery by retrograde axonal transport. The function of this process is not known, but it may have significance for the pathogenesis of motor and autonomic neuropathies and neuronopathies.