Developmental Study of Myelin Basic Protein Variants in Various Regions of Pig Nervous System

Abstract

A developmental study of myelin basic protein (MBP) variants in eight regions of pig nervous system (NS) was performed using a quantitative electroimmunoblotting procedure. Four major MBP forms with apparent molecular weights of 21.5K, 20.2K, 18.5K, and 17.3K were identified in both the CNS and the PNS and were detected as early as 22 days before birth. Quantification of the most abundant forms, the 21.5K and 18.5K MBPs, revealed characteristic profiles of accumulation of these two variants in different regions of the NS. The ratio of 21.5K:18.5K MBP varied with developmental time as well as with the various NS regions, peaking 20 days postnatally. The 17.3K MBP was observed from embryonic stages to adulthood, as were the 21.5K and 18.5K forms. In contrast, the 20.2K variant appeared most abundant from 10 days before to 22 days after birth and thereafter decreased in intensity so as to be no longer detectable in the brain of a 5-year-old pig. A similar pattern was also observed with an anti-MBP-reacting protein with an apparent molecular weight of 23K. Taken together, these results suggest that in the pig NS, the expression of MBP variants may be regulated both regionally and developmentally.

Unilateral Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion Through the Right Axillary Artery Provides Uniform Flow Distribution to Both Hemispheres of the Brain : A Magnetic Resonance and Histopathological Study in Pigs

“…Twelve young female pigs (weight, 32 to 38 kg; age, Ϸ105 days) that seemed to be neurologically mature 13 were acclimatized in the animal facility of the Institute for Biodiagnostics for Ն12 days before the study and fasted for 12 hours before operation. All pigs received humane care in compliance with the guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care.…”

Blood-brain barrier disruption after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in immature swine.

“…19 -20 In the rat, which has a relatively short gestation, endothelial tight junctions are present at birth, although there are some differences between the newborn and adult rat in specific transport systems. 6 In the pig, myelination appears to occur primarily during the first three postnatal weeks, 21 and one would anticipate that the bloodbrain barrier is structurally intact by this time. Our data showing that the Kj for AIB in the cerebrum in the control group was approximately 10 times less than that of the pituitary supports this assumption.…”

Somatosensory Evoked Potential and Brain Water Content in Post-Asphyxic Immature Piglets

“…In addition, the 1-to 6-d age precedes the period of peak myelination in pig brain (29), thereby approximating a human newborn. In prior studies of asphyxia in immature piglets, the length of asphyxia often was determined as the time required to achieve a predetermined reduction in heart rate or blood pressure, which generally varied from 2 to 7 min (25)(26)(27)(28).…”