Reelin is transiently expressed in the peripheral nerve during development and is upregulated following nerve crush.
Reelin is an extracellular matrix protein which is critical for the positioning of migrating post-mitotic neurons and the laminar organization of several brain structures during development. We investigated the expression and localization of Reelin in the rodent peripheral nerve during postnatal development and following crush injury in the adult stage. As shown with Western blotting, immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR, Schwann cells in the developing peripheral nerve and in primary cultures from neonatal nerves produce and secrete Reelin. While Reelin levels are downregulated in adult stages, they are again induced following sciatic nerve injury. A morphometric analysis of sciatic nerve sections of reeler mice suggests that Reelin is not essential for axonal ensheathment by Schwann cells, however, it influences the caliber of myelinated axons and the absolute number of fibers per unit area. This indicates that Reelin may play a role in peripheral nervous system development and repair by regulating Schwann cell-axon interactions.
Panteri
Roger
R
Laboratorio di Neuroscienze dello Sviluppo, Università Campus Bio-Medico, 00155 Roma, Italy. R.Panteri@unicampus.it
Mey
Jörg
J
Zhelyaznik
Nina
N
D'Altocolle
Anna
A
Del Fà
Aurora
A
Gangitano
Carlo
C
Marino
Ramona
R
Lorenzetto
Erika
E
Buffelli
Mario
M
Keller
Flavio
F
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D000091042:Reelin Protein; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D004676:Myelin Basic Protein; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000091042:Reelin Protein; C000717128:Reln protein, mouse; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases