title: Immunohistochemical localization of netrin-1 in the embryonic chick nervous system.
abstract: Netrin-1 has profound in vitro effects on the growth properties of vertebrate embryonic axons. In addition, netrin-1 mRNA is found in the floor plate of the embryonic nervous system, an intermediate target of many axons, including commissural axons that are affected by netrin-1 in vitro. Moreover, genetic studies of netrin-1 homologs in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila implicate these proteins in commissure formation. We raised polyclonal antisera that recognize chick netrin-1 in fixed tissue sections. The antisera were used to immunohistochemically map netrin-1 in the embryonic spinal cord, brain, and retina. The relationship between netrin-1 localization and the growth of pioneering axons suggests roles for netrin-1 in the regulation of circumferential, commissural, and longitudinal axon growth in the spinal cord and brain. The data also suggest that the primary or sole effect of netrin-1 on pioneering spinal cord commissural axons is haptotactic. Furthermore, the pattern of netrin-1 localization raises the possibility that this protein helps mediate neuronal migration in the spinal cord, brain, and retina.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida Brain Institute, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0244, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: MacLennan
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: McLaurin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Vinson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Szulc
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Heaton
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D000075388:Netrin-1; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000075388:Netrin-1