Nogo A expression in the adult enteric nervous system.
Neuronal plasticity plays an important role in physiological and pathological processes within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Nogo A is a major contributor to the negative effect central nervous system (CNS) myelin has on neurite outgrowth after injury and may also play a role in maintaining synaptic connections in the healthy CNS. Nogo A is highly expressed during neuronal development but in the CNS declines postnatally concomitantly with a loss of regenerative potential while ganglia of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) retain Nogo A. The enteric nervous system shares a number of features in common with the CNS, thus the peripheral distribution of factors affecting plasticity is of interest. We have investigated the distribution of Nogo in the adult mammalian gastrointestinal tract. Nogo A mRNA and protein are detectable in the adult rat GI tract. Nogo A is expressed heterogeneously in enteric neurons throughout the GI tract though expression levels appear not to be correlated with neuronal sub-type. The pattern of expression is maintained in cultured myenteric plexus from the guinea-pig small intestine. As is seen in developing neurons of the CNS, enteric Nogo A is present in both neuronal cell bodies and axons. Our results point to a hitherto unsuspected role for Nogo A in enteric neuronal physiology.
Osborne
S L
SL
Neurology and Gastroenterology Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, GlaxoSmithKline, New Frontiers Science Park, Third Avenue, Harlow, Essex, UK.
Corcoran
S L
SL
Prinjha
R K
RK
Moore
S E
SE
D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; D051381:Rats
D009185:Myelin Proteins; D000070798:Nogo Proteins; C000603199:RTN4 protein, human; C000603201:Rtn4 protein, mouse; C000603197:Rtn4 protein, rat