The subcellular distribution of transferrin in rat choroid plexus studied with immunogold labelling of ultracryosections

Choroid plexus epithelium from third ventricle choroid plexus of 2-3-week-old rats was examined for transferrin-like immunoreactivity. In 5 microns paraffin sections most epithelial cells exhibited a pronounced immunoperoxidase staining for transferrin. The ultrastructure of the epithelium in question was examined by conventional electron microscopy. Immunolabelling of ultracryosections with IgG-gold, protein-A gold or protein-A gold-antiprotein-A protein-A gold showed an intense labelling of the basal extracellular space. The lateral intercellular space and the luminal surface showed a more variable labelling; no labelling of the tight junction zone was seen. Intracellularly a distinct labelling of the 'uptake and disposal pathway' (the endosomal-lysosomal system) was observed, but also the synthetic machinery (rough endoplasmic reticulum, stacked Golgi membranes) showed a characteristic labelling. Thus it seems likely that both uptake and synthesis of transferrin occur in choroid plexus epithelial cells.