title: PDGF receptors in the rat CNS: during late neurogenesis, PDGF alpha-receptor expression appears to be restricted to glial cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage.
abstract: Using in situ hybridization, we have visualized cells in the rat central nervous system (CNS) that contain mRNA encoding the platelet-derived growth factor alpha receptor (PDGF-alpha R). After embryonic day 16 (E16), PDGF-alpha R mRNA appears to be expressed by a subset of glial cells, but not by neurons. The temporal and spatial distribution of PDGF-alpha R+ cells, together with 125I-PDGF binding studies on subsets of glial cells in vitro, suggests that PDGF-alpha R may be expressed predominantly, or exclusively, by cells of the oligodendrocyte-type-2 astrocyte (O-2A) lineage. This conclusion is supported by the fact that the numbers of PDGF-alpha R+ cells in developing and adult optic nerves correlate well with independent estimates of the number of O-2A progenitor cells in the nerve at equivalent ages. Small numbers of PDGF-alpha R+ cells are present in the brain at E16, at which time they are found outside the subventricular germinal zones, suggesting that these cells do not express PDGF-alpha R until after, or shortly before they start to migrate away from the subventricular layer towards their final destinations. Reduced numbers of PDGF-alpha R+ cells persist in the adult CNS. PDGF-alpha R is also expressed strongly in the meningeal membranes and choroid plexus, and in the inner limiting membrane of the retina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Pringle
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Mudhar
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Collarini
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology*; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology*; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017479:Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor