Growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) mRNA is upregulated in the rat superior cervical ganglia after preganglionic transection.
Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) is a growth-associated protein which is synthesised in high amounts in neurons during neuronal outgrowth. In a previous study we have shown that GAP-43 immunoreactivity is increased in neurons in superior cervical ganglia (SCG) and in nerve terminals in the irides after preganglionic denervation. We have now examined changes in GAP-43 mRNA using in situ hybridisation. GAP-43 mRNA was seen to be constitutively expressed by principal neurons of the rat superior cervical ganglion. Expression was increased further by section of the cervical sympathetic trunk, reaching a maximum (increased by about 30%) 3 days after decentralisation. The increased GAP-43 protein seen after decentralisation thus appears to be due to an upregulation of GAP-43 mRNA in the adrenergic neurons. The results imply that GAP-43 expression in the SCG is under presynaptic control, acting at least partly by control of mRNA levels.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Göteborg University Medical Faculty, Sweden. xiu-e.hou@anatcell.gu.se
X E
XE
Hou
G J
GJ
Michael
J V
JV
Priestley
A
A
Dahlström
D000818:Animals; D001339:Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic / Q000601:surgery*; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics*
D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger