title: GDNF, RET and GFRalpha-1-3 mRNA expression in the developing human spinal cord and ganglia.
abstract: The identification of endogenous neurotrophic factors and their receptors in human spinal cord is important not only to understand development, but also in the consideration of possible future therapies for neurodegenerative disorders and trauma. Using in situ hybridization, the expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurturin (NTN), persephin (PSP), GFRalpha-1, GFRalpha-2, GFRalpha-3 and RET mRNA in human fetal spinal cord was studied. Strong GDNF mRNA hybridization signal, presumably restricted to Clarke's nucleus, was detected in the thoracic spinal cord. mRNA encoding GFRalpha-1 was expressed in the entire spinal cord gray matter with particularly high expression in the ventral horn. GFRbeta-1 was also expressed more weakly in dorsal root ganglia. NTN and persephin mRNA were not detected in either the fetal spinal cord or the dorsal root ganglia. mRNA coding for GFRalpha-2, however, was found in most cells of the spinal cord gray matter. A strong expression of GFRalpha-3 mRNA was detected in dorsal root ganglia cells and Schwann cells. The transducing receptor RET was expressed strongly in motorneurons and dorsal root ganglion neurons. We conclude that basic features concerning the role of the GDNF family of ligands and their receptors revealed in rodents applies to humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Widenfalk
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spenger
mesh_terms: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051101:Neurturin; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C495039:GDNF protein, human; C494987:GFRA1 protein, human; C494993:GFRA3 protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C495053:NRTN protein, human; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051101:Neurturin; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; C110758:persephin; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C416649:Ret protein, Drosophila