title: Expression pattern of STOP lacZ reporter gene in adult and developing mouse brain.
abstract: Stable tubulin-only polypeptide (STOP) proteins are microtubule-associated proteins responsible for microtubule stabilization in neurons. STOP null mice show apparently normal cerebral anatomy but display synaptic defects associated with neuroleptic-sensitive behavioral disorders. STOP null mice have therefore been proposed as an animal model for the study of schizophrenia. In the present study, the expression pattern of STOP gene in developing and adult brain has been examined by using lacZ gene inserted in the STOP locus, as a reporter gene. beta-Galactosidase (beta-gal) immunostaining was confined to neuronal cells and projections. Strong labeling was observed in the whole olfactory system, cortical layer VII, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum, habenula, fasciculus retroflexus, and interpeduncular nucleus in adults. Additionally, ventral thalamic nucleus, clusters of positive cells in striatum, and Cajal-Retzius cells of cortical layer I were labeled in young mice. The strong expression of STOP lacZ reporter gene observed in brain is confined to areas that may be involved in the schizophrenia-related symptoms observed in STOP-deficient mice.
authors: INSERM U666 and Institut d'Histologie, Faculté de Médecine, Strasbourg, France.
authors: Alice
authors: A
authors: Couégnas
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Schweitzer
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Andrieux
authors: M Said
authors: MS
authors: Ghandour
authors: Nelly
authors: N
authors: Boehm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; C491893:Mtap6 protein, mouse; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase