Embryonic fibronectins are up-regulated following peripheral nerve injury in rats

Fibronectin mRNAs that include the alternatively spliced exons EIIIA, EIIIB, and V are prevalent during embryogenesis, and EIIIA and EIIIB reappear during wound healing. Using ribonuclease protection analyses, we found an up-regulation of V120 (containing the alpha 4 beta 1 integrin binding site), as well as EIIIA, and EIIIB in fibronectin mRNAs in the crush-injured adult rat sciatic nerve. In situ hybridization using splice variant-specific probes revealed that cells within endoneurial tubes of the injured nerve synthesize these embryonic forms of fibronectin. Our results suggest that embryonic fibronectins synthesized within the nerve contribute to the permissiveness of the peripheral nervous system to axon regrowth and a mechanism by which alternative splicing of the V region in fibronectin mRNA could enhance nervous system regeneration.