Localization of hyaluronan in the optic pathway of mouse embryos.
CD44 has been shown to be involved in midline crossing and the generation of ipsilateral projections in the mouse optic chiasm. To determine whether these functions involve hyaluronan, the major ligand of CD44, we examined localization of hyaluronan in the mouse optic pathway. Hyaluronan was deposited mainly in vitreal regions of the retina and the optic disk. In ventral diencephalon, it was localized largely on the chiasmatic neurons that project processes to the chiasmatic midline and the optic tract. Colocalization of hyaluronan and CD44 was observed only in the midline but not lateral domains of the chiasmatic neurons, suggesting a hyaluronan/CD44-mediated mechanism that controls axon routing at the midline but not at the optic tract and the retina.
Lin
Ling
L
Department of Anatomy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong.
Wang
Jun
J
Chan
Chung-Kit
CK
Chan
Sun-On
SO
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
C476399:Cd44 protein, mouse; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid