Related Experiment Videos
Afferent-boundary interactions in the developing neostriatal mosaic.
T F O'Brien1, A Faissner, M Schachner
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163.
Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research
|February 21, 1992
Summary
Tenascin, an extracellular matrix molecule, is reduced in the developing mouse neostriatum after dopaminergic pathway damage. This suggests that neural inputs influence the expression of recognition molecules in target brain regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The mammalian neostriatum exhibits a mosaic organization composed of patch and matrix compartments.
- Extracellular matrix molecules like tenascin play roles in neural development and organization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of tenascin and other cell adhesion molecules in the developing mouse neostriatum.
- To examine how tenascin expression is affected by partial destruction of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal projection.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of tenascin and tyrosine hydroxylase distribution in early postnatal mouse neostriatum.
- Comparison of tenascin patterns with other cell adhesion molecules following lesions of the nigrostriatal pathway.
Main Results:
- Tenascin is normally concentrated in the matrix and boundaries around patches during development.
- Lesions to the dopaminergic pathway reduced overall tenascin expression and boundary staining.
- Other tested cell adhesion molecules did not show significant alterations after similar lesions.
Conclusions:
- Axonal inputs from the nigrostriatal pathway appear to influence tenascin expression in the neostriatum.
- The observed changes suggest plasticity in recognition molecule expression during development.
- These findings contribute to understanding the differentiation of the developing nigrostriatal system.