Distribution of beta-D-glucuronidase in the central nervous system of albino rats

The distribution of beta-D-glucuronidase (GLR) in the central nervous system of albino rats was surveyed with a simultaneous-coupling histochemical technique. Specific neuronal populations displayed intense GLR activity. These groups include olfactory bulb mitral cells, neurones in the deep layer of the olfactory tubercle, cells in both the horizontal and vertical limbs of the nucleus of the diagonal band, paraventricular, supraoptic and suprachiasmatic nuclear neurons, cochlear and vestibular nuclear neurons, and facial, trigeminal and spinal motoneurons. Two types of intracellular GLR staining were observed. Granular staining was prominent in mitral cells; cytoplasmic staining and a perinuclear 'ring' were prominently stained in motoneurons. These patterns may correspond to lysosomal and endoplasmic reticular distribution of GLR in different cell types.