Subcellular localization of the carbohydrate Lewisx adhesion structure in hippocampus cell cultures

The Lewisx (Lex) epitope (Gal(β1-4)[Fuc(α1-3)]GlcNAc-R) has been associated with the development of the central nervous system of diverse species including human and rodents. In this work, Lex has been found in the tetanus neurotoxin insensitive vesicle-associated membrane protein (TI-VAMP) compartment of rat hippocampus neurons in culture, at 7 days in vitro (DIV), when neurite extension is abundant. The TI-VAMP compartment is known to be associated with neurite outgrowth. Lex was found predominantly in neurites but also in somata and in growth cones. Abundant Lex-carrier glycoproteins specific to neurons have been identified at this stage of differentiation. At a later stage of differentiation, at 14 DIV, Lex appeared in extrasynaptic sites of GABAergic neurons, and in synaptic sites of glutamatergic neurons.