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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Assay for Neural Induction in the Chick Embryo
Published on: February 13, 2009
Expression of CD15 in a subset of dorsal root ganglion cells during the chick embryonic development
1University of Düsseldorf, Institute of Neuroanatomy, FRG.
Insights
CD15 immunoreactivity appears in chick sensory neurons early in development, initially in the lateroventral dorsal root ganglion. This marker is later found in nerve fibers innervating skin structures, suggesting a role in somatosensory targets.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- CD15 is a carbohydrate epitope with known roles in cell recognition and development.
- Understanding the expression patterns of specific markers like CD15 is crucial for elucidating neuronal development and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of CD15 immunoreactivity in chick sensory neurons during embryonic development.
- To determine the specific neuronal populations and target tissues expressing CD15.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to detect CD15 immunoreactivity in chick embryos at various developmental stages.
- The distribution of CD15-positive cells and nerve fibers within the dorsal root ganglion and peripheral nerves was analyzed.
Main Results:
- CD15 immunoreactivity first appeared in the lateroventral dorsal root ganglion (DRG) around embryonic day 6 (E6).
- By E11, CD15-positive cells were also found in the dorsomedial DRG, with even distribution by the end of development.
- CD15-expressing nerve fibers were observed around E16, extending into peripheral nerves and skin, including epidermal and feather structures.
- No CD15 staining was detected in visceral structures before hatching.
Conclusions:
- CD15 is restricted to a subset of DRG neurons that innervate somatosensory targets in the skin.
- The expression pattern suggests a potential role for the CD15 epitope in the development or function of these specific sensory neurons, possibly related to myelination.
Abstract:
We have investigated the distribution of CD15 immunoreactivity (IR) in chick sensory neurons during the embryonic development. IR first appeared around embryonic day 6 (E6) preferentially in the lateroventral part of the dorsal root ganglion (drg). Here it was located in the cytoplasm of the ganglion cells. Starting at E11, CD15 positive cells have been detected also in the dorsomedial part of the drug. Towards the end of embryonic development, these immunoreactive (ir) cells were evenly distributed within the drg. Around E 16 nerve fibres could also be found, expressing the CD15 epitope. These fibres run both in centripetal and centrifugal direction, and could be followed throughout peripheral nerves. IR was confined to peripheral nerves of the skin, where after its subepidermal arborisation fine nerve terminals entered the basal stratum of the epidermis or the dermal bulbous part of feathers. Until hatching no staining in visceral structures was detected. Our results suggest that CD15 is restricted to a subset of drg neurons innervating somatosensory targets. A role for the CD15 epitope for myelination is discussed.
