title: Growth-associated protein (GAP-43) in terminal Schwann cells of rat Pacinian corpuscles.
abstract: Growth-associated protein (GAP-43) immunoreactivity was examined in Pacinian corpuscles of intact neonatal and adult rats as well as after denervation and reinnervation in adult rats. All immature Pacinian corpuscles were GAP-43 immunoreactive (GAP-43+) in their inner cores while only 46 +/- 5.6% of the mature corpuscles exhibited GAP-43+ inner cores. The frequency of GAP-43+ inner cores increased to 90 +/- 7.2% after their permanent denervation. The expression of GAP-43 in the inner cores was reduced by contact with regrowing axons, but 38 +/- 5.3% of Pacinian corpuscles retained GAP-43+ in their inner cores following reinnervation. These results indicate that GAP-43 regulation is not confined only to axons but also involves some extra-axonal cues, and support a role for this protein in the process formation by terminal Schwann cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubovy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aldskogius
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D006133:Growth Substances; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins