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The mouse NCAM gene displays a biphasic expression pattern during neural tube development
L Bally-Cuif1, C Goridis, M J Santoni
1INSERM U106, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Development (Cambridge, England)
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) expression in mouse embryos occurs in two distinct waves during neural tube development. Initially, NCAM is found in the neuroepithelium, followed by expression on differentiating neurons.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) is abundant in vertebrates.
- NCAM regulates morphogenetic processes.
- NCAM expression patterns in mammalian embryos are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental expression profile of NCAM gene in mouse embryos.
- To focus on NCAM expression within the developing neural tube from E7.5 to E12.5.
Main Methods:
- Examined NCAM gene expression using techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for RNA analysis.
- Confirmed NCAM protein expression via immunohistochemistry.
- Studied mouse embryos from gestational day 7.5 to 12.5.
Main Results:
- NCAM transcripts detected around E8.5 in somites and neural tube.
- Early NCAM expression in neuroepithelium showed rostrocaudal positional restriction.
- By E9.5, NCAM strongly expressed on postmitotic neurons throughout the neuraxis until E12.5.
Conclusions:
- NCAM expression in the neural tube occurs in two distinct spatiotemporal waves.
- The first wave is in the proliferating neuroepithelium, dependent on rostrocaudal position.
- The second wave is on postmitotic neurons across the entire neuraxis.