Age-related expression of the CD15 (3-fucosyl-N-acetyl-lactosamine) epitope in the monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops aethiops L.) lateral geniculate nucleus.
The profile of the CD15 epitope-expression was studied in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of a monkey species (Cercopithecus aethiops aethiops L.) during the peri- and postnatal development. Intense labeling of the neuropil and of astroglial cells was detected. Morphological examination of the spatio-temporal appearance of the CD15-expression showed different consecutive patterns of expression: expression of the CD15 epitope was high one week prenatally and during the first postnatal weeks. During this perinatal period it was mainly expressed in the interlaminar zone of the magnocellular portion of the LGN. This was followed by a time period when immunoreactivity gradually decreased to become almost absent by approximately 10 weeks of age. Toward adulthood a different pattern of immunoreactivity occurred, revealing a pattern of lamination that was attributable to CD15 positive astrocytes, most prominent in the cellular layers 1 and 2. They were later on seen spread out through the entire LGN such that the LGN of adult animals was entirely filled with positive material. From the temporal correlation of CD15-expression and LGN histogenesis it is concluded that the high level of CD15, that is observed in the neuropil during the perinatal period, matches with high synaptic plasticity within the visual system; in contrast, low levels of CD15-expression correlate with synaptic reorganization processes.
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016256:Lewis X Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology
D016256:Lewis X Antigen