Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in rats regenerate axons in the presence of a PNS nerve graft. To determine if axon-regenerating RGCs synthesize cell adhesion/recognition molecules which they possessed during development, retinae were subjected to in situ hybridization with antisense cRNA probes of L1, TAG-1, and SC-1 (and GAP-43 for comparison). L1 and TAG-1 (and GAP-43) proteins on axons were detected with antibodies. L1, TAG-1, and SC-1 (and Gap-43) mRNAs and L1 and TAG-1 (and Gap-43) proteins were expressed by RGCs in embryonic, postnatal, and adult rats. After optic nerve lesion (ONL), the surviving RGCs between 2 and 28 days after ONL continued to express L1. TAG-1 and SC-1 expression, however is lost. In grafted rats, axon-regenerating RGCs express L1 (together with GAP-43) but neither TAG-1 nor SC-1. Thus, axonal regeneration in grafted rats occurs in the presence of L1 (and GAP-43) but in the absence of TAG-1 and SC-1).
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule
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Aging / metabolism
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn / growth & development
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Animals, Newborn / metabolism
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Axons / physiology*
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Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal*
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Contactin 2
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Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
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Extracellular Matrix Proteins / biosynthesis
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Female
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Immunologic Techniques
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In Situ Hybridization
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Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex
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Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis
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Nerve Regeneration*
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis
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Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / biosynthesis*
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Optic Nerve / pathology
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Rats
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Rats, Wistar
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Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism*
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Retinal Ganglion Cells / physiology*
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Sciatic Nerve / transplantation
Substances
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Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule
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Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
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Contactin 2
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Extracellular Matrix Proteins
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Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules