Expression of B-type endothelin receptor gene during neural development

Mutations of the B-type endothelin receptor (ETRB) gene have been found to cause defects in the development of enteric neurons, which resulted in aganglionic megacolon in rodents and humans. To determine the distribution of ETRB mRNA during neural development, mainly in the CNS, in situ hybridization was applied at various developmental stages of rat. ETRB gene was abundantly expressed prenatally in the ventricular and subventricular zones, as well as postnatally in the ependymal and subependymal cells. ETRB mRNA was also strongly detected prenatally in the dorsal root ganglia, as well as postnatally in the cerebellar Bergmann glial cells and epithelial cells of choroid plexus. Our data suggest that ETRB acts as a regulator in the differentiation, proliferation, or migration of neural cells during development.