Developmental changes of epidermal growth factor-like immunoreactivity in the human fetal brain.
We investigated the immunohistochemical localization of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the developing human brain from 6 weeks of gestation to 3 months postpartum. EGF-like immunoreactivity varied in its localization and intensity according to the stage of development. At 10 - 20 weeks of gestation, EGF-like immunoreactivity appeared in proliferating and migrating cells in the cerebrum, disappeared thereafter, and appeared again in cortical neurons after 27 weeks of gestation. Astrocytes also showed EGF-like immunoreactivity from 27 weeks of gestation. These results suggest developmental regulation of EGF expression in the human brain, suggesting its physiological role in both neuronal and glial cells.
Kato
M
M
Department of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect Research, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
Mizuguchi
M
M
Takashima
S
S
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism; D004805:Ependyma / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor