Differential localization of neuregulin-1 type III in the central and peripheral nervous system.
In the developing PNS, axonal neuregulin-1 (NRG1) type III is the key determinant for myelination. However, the specific role for NRG1 (III) in the CNS has not been established. To address this issue, isotype-specific antibodies were generated, characterized, and used for the immunofluorescent localization of NRG1 (III) in the developing and adult CNS of rat. In contrast to adult peripheral nerve, which showed robust axonal staining, no immunoreactivity was observed in CNS myelinated tracts during the period of active myelination or in the adult CNS. Surprisingly, NRG1 (III) was prominently expressed on dendrites and soma in both the developing and adult CNS. These findings were corroborated through the subcellular fractionation of adult rat brain combined with an immunoblotting analysis. The immunolocalization of NRG1 (III) suggests that it plays a novel role in the myelination fate of CNS axons possibly through undetermined roles in neuronal maturation, or dendritic development and activation.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612-7308, USA.
Dan J
DJ
Bare
Sara G
SG
Becker-Catania
George H
GH
DeVries
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015151:Immunoblotting; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D020890:Neuregulin-1; C490581:Nrg1 protein, mouse; C490580:Nrg1 protein, rat; D020033:Protein Isoforms