The expression pattern of the c-kit ligand in gonads of mice supports a role for the c-kit receptor in oocyte growth and in proliferation of spermatogonia.

The tyrosine kinase receptor c-kit and its ligand KL are required for postnatal development of germ cells, in addition to their role in primordial germ cells. To clarify their function, a detailed examination of the pattern of expression of KL in postnatal gonads was undertaken. In ovaries, the expression of KL as seen by RNA blot analysis and by RNase protection assays is relatively high at birth (P0), low from P5 to P8, and high from P12 onward. KL expression is relatively high in testes of all ages. The forms of KL RNA present in the testes suggest that from P5 onward the membrane-bound form of KL predominates, while in the ovary significant amounts of both forms are present. As observed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, in the newborn ovary KL is highly expressed in central cords whose cells contribute to the formation of central growing follicles. Expression is low in follicle cells of small growing follicles and increases to high levels in three-layered follicles during late oocyte growth. Large amounts of the ligand are found within growing oocytes. After oocyte growth ceases, expression continues only in the outer layers of multilayered follicles. In the testis, from P0 through P9, KL expression is distinct in Sertoli cells, but not in germ cells. Thereafter, the intensity of KL expression declines as the number of spermatogenic cells increases within the tubules. KL in Sertoli cells appears to be concentrated basally at the stage of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium when it is known to interact with differentiating type A spermatogonia. These data are consistent with a role for KL in oocyte growth and in facilitating proliferation and/or differentiation of type A spermatogonia.

c-kit receptor and ligand expression in postnatal development of the mouse cerebellum suggests a function for c-kit in inhibitory interneurons.

The c-kit receptor and its cognate ligand, KL, are encoded at the white spotting locus (W) and the steel locus (Sl) of the mouse, respectively. Sl and W mutations affect the same cellular targets in melanogenesis, gametogenesis and hematopoiesis during embryonic development and in adult life. c-kit is expressed in cellular targets of W and Sl mutations, whereas KL is expressed in the microenvironment of these targets. c-kit and KL, however, are also expressed in tissues and cell types that are not targets of W and Sl mutations, including the brain. The cerebellum contains a small number of neural cell types whose developmental origins, pathways of migration, and synaptic contacts are known. We have investigated the patterns of expression of the c-kit and KL RNA and protein products in postnatal cerebellar development of the mouse. In the adult cerebellum, c-kit RNA and protein expression was evident in basket, stellate, and Golgi neurons. Most strikingly, the c-kit protein is expressed in the basket cell axons that form "basket" and "pinceau" structures entwining the Purkinje cell soma and the initial segment of the Purkinje cell axon. KL RNA expression was found in Purkinje cells, and the KL protein was detected in Purkinje cell bodies and dendrites. Soluble KL protein was also present in c-kit-expressing basket, stellate, and Golgi cells, presumably as a result of internalization of ligand-receptor complexes. During postnatal development, c-kit and KL RNA and protein expression in Golgi and Purkinje neurons, respectively, was evident by day 0 and persisted subsequently. c-kit expression in basket and stellate cells was detected from their time of birth, starting at day 4. These results suggest a role for the c-kit receptor system in postnatal development of the cerebellum.