| Project/Area Number |
15500226
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
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| Research Institution | University of Tsukuba |
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Principal Investigator |
SHIGA Takashi University of Tsukuba, Graduate School of Human Comprehensive Sciences, Professor, 大学院・人間総合科学研究科, 教授 (50178860)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2003 – 2004
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2004)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,700,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥2,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000)
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| Keywords | MAP kinasae / ERK / cell adhesion molecule / spinal cord / dorsal root ganglion / JNK / p38 |
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| Research Abstract |
Mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPKs) are involved in the central pathways that respond to various extracellular signals. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK) is a member of MAPKs and has various functions in the neural development. Here, we investigated the expression of p-ERK in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion(DRG) of chick embryos using a specific antibody. In the spinal cord, p-ERK positive cells appeared in the ventral ventricular zone on embryonic day 4 (E4). From E6 onward, they migrated radially toward the ventral horn to be localized abundantly in the white matter. Double staining method revealed that these p-ERK positive cells included oligodendrocyte precursors. In the dorsal horn, p-ERK positive small cells appeared on E6. Subsequently, the positive cells in the dorsal horn increased transiently in number and disappeared by E10. In vitro study revealed that p-ERK expression was induced in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord slices co-cultured with DRG. Furthermore, p-ERK was also induced in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord slices by acute treatment of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF). Motoneurons also expressed p-ERK transiently on E7. In DRG, weak p-ERK immunoreaction appeared in the ventrolateral part on E5. From E6, the immunoreactivity became stronger and intense p-ERK positive cells were observed throughout the DRG by E9. The strong expression of p-ERK in DRG was maintained until E15, and then reduced greatly on E18. The present study provides a structural basis to examine in vivo roles of ERK in the neural development.
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