Nogo-A expression in the intact and injured nervous system.
The expression of Nogo-A mRNA and protein in the nervous system of adult rats and cultured neurons was studied by in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry. Nogo-A mRNA was expressed by many cells in unoperated animals, including spinal motor, DRG, and sympathetic neurons, retinal ganglion cells, and neocortical, hippocampal, and Purkinje neurons. Nogo-A protein was strongly expressed by presumptive oligodendrocytes, but not by NG2+glia and was abundant in motor, DRG, and sympathetic neurons, retinal ganglion cells, and many Purkinje cells, but was difficult to detect in dentate gyrus neurons and some neocortical neurons. Cultured fetal mouse neocortical neurons and adult rat DRG neurons strongly expressed Nogo-A in their perikarya, growth cones, and axonal varicosities. All axons in the intact sciatic nerve contained Nogo-A and many but not all regenerating axons were strongly Nogo-A immunopositive after sciatic nerve transection. Ectopic muscle fibres that developed among the regenerating axons were also Nogo-A immunopositive. Following injury to the spinal cord, Nogo-A mRNA was upregulated around the lesion and Nogo-A protein was strongly expressed in injured dorsal column fibres and their sprouts which entered the lesion site. Following optic nerve crush, Nogo-A accumulated in the proximal and distal stumps bordering the lesions.
Hunt
David
D
Department of Immunology and Molecular Pathology, Windeyer Institute, University College London, Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JF, UK. david.hunt@ucl.ac.uk
Coffin
R S
RS
Prinjha
R K
RK
Campbell
G
G
Anderson
P N
PN
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D009185:Myelin Proteins; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; C000603201:Rtn4 protein, mouse; C000603197:Rtn4 protein, rat