Time course and expression pattern of the neuronal markers in the developing human spinal cord

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the spatio‐temporal appearance of different neuronal cell subtypes by analyzing expression patterns of several neuronal markers (calretinin, neurofilament 200 (NF200), vanilloid receptor 1(VR1) and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP)) of the embryonic human spinal cord (SC). Developing human SCs from 11 human conceptuses beetwen 5–10 developmental weeks (DW) were examined by light and electron microscopy and immunofluorescence. Light and electron microscopy revealed different embryonic stages of recognizable structure of the SC. NF200, CGRP and VR1 positive cells were observed in SCs during 5th–6th DW. NF200 was predominantly expressed in the ventral part, indicating presence of motoneurons. As development advanced, NF200 was mainly expressed in the marginal zone. Expression of CGRP was intense during all of the investigated periods, predominantly during the 5th–6th DW pointing to neural sensory differentiation, as opposed to the last DW when reduced expression of CGRP in the marginal layer indicated the terminations of the sensory afferents. Expression of VR1 was highest in the intermediate zone, at the beginning and at the end of the investigated periods, pointing to VR1 spatial pattern in the visceral afferents in the grey matter, while the first signs of calretinin were found in the 9th–10th DW ventrally. Delineating the relationships between factors involved in processes of neuronal differentiation as well as spatial and temporal arrangement of SC interrelated neurons can provide a useful information about normal SC development as well as the insight in possible causes of anomalies and disorders during embryonic life.

Effects of Different n6/n3 PUFAs Dietary Ratio on Cardiac Diabetic Neuropathy

“…Three subunits of neurofilaments are differentiated by molecular weight. N52 (NF200) is the heavy chain with a molecular weight of 200 kDa and is a marker for sensory myelinated neurons, frequently found in mechanoreceptors and proprioreceptors, as well as in a subpopulation of nociceptive neurons [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. A source of NF200 immunoreactive fibers in the heart is the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) [ 42 ] as well as the vagal nodose ganglia projections [ 43 ].…”

The Distribution of Innervation and Immune Cell Infiltration Is Different in Genital and Extragenital Variants of Lichen Sclerosus

“…CGRP is a vasodilatatory secretory peptide usually expressed in the cytoplasm of small-diameter neurons, as well as in large sensory neurons and motoneurons in the epidermis of vertebrates [ 11 , 12 , 13 ]. CGRP has a function in the pathophysiology of neuropathic and inflammatory pain, as it is expressed in polymodal nociceptors of viscera and skin [ 13 ].…”

“…TRPV1 is a nonselective cation channel that is activated by protons, noxious heat and some vanilloids, such as capsaicin [ 12 ]. It is expressed in the nociceptors and reacts to nociceptive stimuli, transduction of neuropathic pain and inflammation-provoked thermal hyperalgesia.…”

“…It is expressed in the nociceptors and reacts to nociceptive stimuli, transduction of neuropathic pain and inflammation-provoked thermal hyperalgesia. TRPV1 expression has been found both in the sensory and motor neurons of humans and rats [ 12 , 13 ]. TRPV1 is expressed in sensory nerves and different non-neuronal cells of the skin, implying its role in the pathology of numerous pruritic skin disorders such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and Netherton syndrome [ 10 ].…”