E-cadherin expression in a particular subset of sensory neurons.
We found that the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia of mouse embryos express the E-cadherin cell-cell adhesion molecule and analyzed its expression profile. E-cadherin expression began around Embryonic Day 12 (E12) in these ganglia, thereafter increased, and persisted to the adult stage. This cadherin was expressed by 10 and 30% of DRG neurons in E17 and postnatal animals, respectively, as well as by satellite cells and some Schwann cells. E-cadherin-positive primary sensory fibers terminated only in a narrow region of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, which was identified as part of lamina II by double-staining for E-cadherin and substance P or somatostatin. This E-cadherin expressing area of the spinal cord extended to part of the trigeminal nucleus in the medulla. These results showed that E-cadherin is expressed in a particular subset of primary sensory neurons which may have specific functional properties. We suggest that this adhesion molecule may play a role in the selective adhesion of sensory neuronal fibers.
Shimamura
K
K
Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Japan.
Takahashi
T
T
Takeichi
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000196:embryology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D005865:Gestational Age; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000737:chemistry*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000196:embryology*
D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins; D012333:RNA, Messenger