title: The nerve growth factor receptor gene is expressed in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues in the human fetus.
abstract: In situ hybridization was used to study expression of beta-nerve growth factor receptor (NGF-R) mRNA in the early human fetus. In 8- to 12-week old fetuses, high labelling was found over motoneurons along the entire length of the lateral motor column. High levels of NGF-R mRNA were also seen over most developing nerve cell bodies in both the dorsomedial and ventrolateral part of the dorsal root ganglia. Lower, but clearly specific labelling was detected over a subpopulation of cells in Auerbach's plexus in the intestines. Evidence for a non-neuronal expression of NGF-R mRNA came from labelling over a subpopulation of cells in glomeruli of the kidney in a 12-week old human embryo. Myoblasts in skeletal muscle anlagen were labelled as well as cells along peripheral nerve. The widespread expression of NGF-R mRNA in the human fetus suggests that the NGF-R is important for development of a variety of different tissues of both neuronal and non-neuronal origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Chemistry, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ernfors
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wetmore
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eriksdotter-Nilsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bygdeman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Strömberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Persson
mesh_terms: D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor