Expression of DM-GRASP/BEN in the developing mouse spinal cord and various epithelia

The expression pattern of the immunoglobulin DM-GRASP/BEN gene was studied in the mouse embryo using in situ hybridization. DM-GRASP/BEN is expressed in the spinal cord in a subset of motoneurons expressing Islet-1, and non homogeneously in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). In contrast, it's expression is homogeneous in the vestibulo-cochlear and trigemminal ganglia. DM-GRASP/BEN is also expressed in various epithelia of ectodermal or endodermal origin like the nasal, buccopharyngal and lung epithelia. In upper lip, DM-GRASP/BEN transcripts are present in the epidermal cells of the developing hair vibrissa follicles. First detected in the hair placode, DM-GRASP/BEN expression is localized in the central cells of the epithelial hair peg and then in a thin layer of cells crushed against the outer root sheath by the outgrowth of the hair shaft.