Chordin expression in the adult rat brain.
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) exert its biological functions by interacting with membrane bound receptors. However, functions of BMPs are also regulated in the extracellular space by secreted antagonistic regulators. Chordin is an extracellular BMP antagonist that binds BMP-2, 4, and 7 with high affinity and thus interferes with binding to BMP receptors. Although chordin expression has been well described in the early development of the CNS, little information is available for its expression in the adult CNS. We, thus, investigated chordin expression in the adult rat CNS using immunohistochemistry. Chordin was intensely expressed in most neurons, and their dendrites and axons. In addition, abundant chordin expression was also observed in the neuropil of the gray matters where high plasticity is reported, such as the molecular layer of the cerebellum and the superficial layer of the superior colliculus. Furthermore, we found that astrocytes and ependymal cells also express chordin protein. These data indicate that chordin is more widely expressed throughout the adult CNS than previously reported, and its continued abundant expression in the adult brain strongly supports the idea that chordin plays pivotal roles also in the adult brain.
Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan.
S
S
Mikawa
Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashiku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan. Electronic address: ksato@hama-med.ac.jp.
K
K
Sato
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D004805:Ependyma / Q000378:metabolism; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D036421:Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000378:metabolism
C000714848:Dcx protein, rat; D000089662:Doublecortin Protein; D006023:Glycoproteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C054234:chordin
BMP; BMPR; BSA; DCX; GFAP; IR; LTD; LTP; MAP2; NeuN; PB; SVZ; axon; bone morphogenetic protein; bone morphogenetic protein receptor; bovine serum albumin; doublecortin; glial fibrillary acidic protein; immunohistochemistry; like immunoreactivity; long-term depression; long-term potentiation; microtubule-associated protein-2; neuronal nuclei; neuropil; phosphate buffer; subventricular zone