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Developmental and denervation changes in c-ret proto-oncogene expression in chick motoneurons
M Nakamura1, K Ohta, K Hirokawa
1Department of Neuroscience and Immunology, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Japan.
Brain Research. Molecular Brain Research
|July 1, 1996
Summary
The c-ret gene is highly expressed in motoneurons and its expression changes after nerve injury, suggesting a role in motoneuron survival and peripheral nerve regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are crucial for cell functions like differentiation and survival.
- Identifying genes vital for motoneuron survival is key to understanding neural development and repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) specifically expressed in motoneurons.
- To investigate the role of c-ret during motoneuron development and in response to nerve injury.
Main Methods:
- RT-PCR was used to obtain RNA from purified embryonic day 5 (E5) chick motoneurons.
- In situ hybridization was employed to screen for RTK expression and analyze changes in c-ret mRNA levels.
- Sciatic nerve denervation and deafferentation were performed to study c-ret expression in response to injury.
Main Results:
- c-ret expression was found to increase gradually in spinal cord motoneurons during development.
- c-ret expression was significantly higher in motoneurons from E17 through adulthood compared to TrkC.
- Denervation led to dynamic changes in c-ret mRNA levels in motoneurons and increased expression in the distal sciatic nerve.
Conclusions:
- The c-ret gene likely encodes a receptor for a factor promoting motoneuron differentiation.
- c-ret may play a role in the regeneration of injured peripheral nerves.