title: Transient expression of GAP-43 in nonneuronal cells of the embryonic chick limb.
abstract: Growth-associated protein (GAP)-43 is highly expressed in neuronal growth cones during periods of axonal outgrowth in development and regeneration of the nervous system. Although GAP-43 is generally considered to be neuron-specific, it is also expressed in some glial cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems and in at least two populations of mesodermally-derived cells in the developing chick limb. GAP-43 mRNA is expressed transiently in developing limbs; although this expression is correlated temporally with the ingrowth of neurites and axons to the limbs, it appears to be independent of nerves. Immunoreactivity for GAP-43 colocalizes in some developing limb muscle and GAP-43 mRNA and protein are particularly abundant in the interdigital mesenchyme that undergoes programmed cell death. GAP-43 has been postulated to mediate rapid changes in cell shape in neurons and glial cells and may serve a similar function in myoblasts fusing to form myotubes and in apototic and phagocytic cells of the interdigital mesenchyme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Stocker
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baizer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciment
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D009132:Muscles / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger