CNTF GENE EXPRESSION AND EXPRESSIVE VARIETY DURING POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT IN SPINAL CORD OF RAT / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe CNTF gene expression and expressive variety during postnatal development in rat spinal cord. Methods The spatial expression of CNTF mRNA in spinal cord was examined by in situ hybridization with dig\|CNTF cDNA probe.Reverse transcription\|polymerse chain reaction(RT\|PCR),as hemi\|quantitative method was used to investigate the expressive variety of CNTF mRNA levels in spinal cord during postnatal development. Results Hybridized signals of CNTF mRNA was found only in part of glial cells on the peripheral region of the ventral and lateral white funiculi of spinal cord,but could not be detected in the gray matter of spinal cord.The expression of CNTF mRNA in spinal cord appeared with a lower level on the first postnatal day.It increased significantly at postnatal 15th days,the expression of CNTF mRNA reached the peak at 30th days,and it began to decrease on the 60th days. Conclusion This study indicated that CNTF mRNA might be expressed in part of glial cells in the white matter.There was expression in spinal cord on the 1st day after birth and the expression levels of CNTF mRNA possessed the changeable character during spinal cord development.