Timing of Neuronal Intermediate Filament Proteins Expression in the Mouse Vomeronasal Organ During Pre- and Postnatal Development. An Immunohistochemical Study

Authors: Merigo, Flavia¹; Mucignat-Caretta, Carla²; Zancanaro, Carlo¹

Source: Chemical Senses, Volume 30, Number 8, October 2005 , pp. 707-717(11)

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Abstract:

Several types of intermediate filament proteins are expressed in developing and mature neurons; they cooperate with other cytoskeletal components to sustain neuronal function from early neurogenesis onward. In this work the timing of expression of nestin, peripherin, internexin, and the neuronal intermediate filament triplet [polypeptide subunits of low (NF-L), medium (NF-M), and high (NF-H) molecular weight] was investigated in the developing fetal and postnatal mouse vomeronasal organ (VNO) by means of immunohistochemistry. The results show that the sequence of expression of intermediate filament proteins is internexin, nestin, and NF-M in the developing vomeronasal sensory epithelium; internexin, peripherin, and NF-M in the developing vomeronasal nerve; and nestin, internexin and peripherin, NF-L, and NF-M in the nerve supply to accessory structures of the VNO. At sexual maturity (2 months) NF-M is only expressed in vomeronasal neurons and NF-M, NF-L and peripherin are expressed in extrinsic nerves supplying VNO structures. The differential distribution of intermediate filament proteins in the vomeronasal sensory epithelium and nerve is discussed in terms of the cell types present therein. It is concluded that several intermediate filament proteins are sequentially expressed during intrauterine development of the VNO neural structures in a different pattern according to the different components of the VNO.

Keywords: nestin; peripherin; internexin; NF-L; NF-M; NF-H

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bji063

Affiliations: 1: Anatomy and Histology Section, Department of Morphological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy and 2: Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Padua, Via Marzolo, 35100 Italy

Publication date: 2005-10-01

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Chemical Senses publishes original research and review papers on all aspects of chemoreception in both humans and animals. An important part of the journal's coverage is devoted to techniques and the development and application of new methods for investigating chemoreception and chemosensory structures.

Timing of Neuronal Intermediate Filament Proteins Expression in the Mouse Vomeronasal Organ During Pre- and Postnatal Development. An Immunohistochemical Study

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