title: Galectin-1 in regenerating motoneurons.
abstract: The exogenous application of recombinant galectin-1 has recently been shown to promote the rate of peripheral nerve regeneration. Endogenous neuronal galectin-1 expression has recently been demonstrated to increase after axotomy. Here we demonstrate a significant increase in the endogenous neuronal expression of galectin-1 mRNA in facial motoneurons after either a nerve resection or crush injury in mice. This increase in galectin-1 expression was due in part to the loss of target-derived factor(s) as indicated by both the return of galectin-1 expression to control levels following target re-innervation and the increase in galectin-1 expression after blockade of axonal transport by an interneuronal colchicine injection. Furthermore, interneuronal injections of glial-derived neurotrophic factor into the uninjured nerve also increased galectin-1 mRNA expression within facial motoneurons suggesting that positive signals may also be involved in the regulation of galectin-1 expression. Galectin-1 null mutant mice showed an attenuated rate of functional recovery of whisking movement after a facial nerve crush.
authors.affiliation: International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries, 6270 University Boulevard, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, V6T 1Z4.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGraw
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: McPhail
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Oschipok
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horie
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Steeves
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ramer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tetzlaff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019771:Axotomy / Q000379:methods; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020220:Facial Nerve Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009409:Nerve Crush / Q000379:methods; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D037483:Galectin 1; C495040:Gdnf protein, mouse; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003078:Colchicine