Spatiotemporal distribution of neuronal calcium sensor‐1 in the developing rat spinal cord

Abstract

The present study revealed the localization of neuronal calcium sensor (NCS)-1 immunoreactivity (IR) in the developing rat spinal cord. The NCS-1 IR first appeared at embryonic day 12 in the peripheral nerves and their somata. Intense NCS-1 IR was expressed in ascending and descending tracts in the white matter during the late prenatal period, which gradually decreased to the faint level during postnatal development. Intense NCS-1 IR was colocalized with growth associated protein (GAP)-43 IR in the marginal zone and with the glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST) IR in the radial processes traversing the marginal zone. In the adult rat white matter, radially oriented astrocytes and astrocytes in the glia limitans were double-labeled for NCS-1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), whereas small dots on finger-like dendritic projections were double-labeled for NCS-1 and synaptophysin. In the developing gray matter, the NCS-1 IR appeared at embryonic day 12 and gradually increased in the neuronal somata and neuropil, reaching a plateau after the end of the 4th postnatal week. The small dots in neuropil were colabeled for NCS-1 and GFAP or NCS-1 and synaptophysin in the adult rat gray matter. These results strongly suggest that NCS-1 is involved in axogenesis and synaptogenesis in the developing rat spinal cord. NCS-1 can serve as a Ca(2+)-sensor not only in neurons but also in radial glial cells or even in radially oriented astrocytes in the adult rat spinal cord.

Expression of the neuronal calcium sensor protein NCS‐1 in the developing mouse olfactory pathway

“…Similarly, in the developing mouse inner ear, NCS-1 is in the vestibular and cochlear afferents before synapse formation (Sage et al, 2000). In the developing rat spinal cord, NCS-1 is found in peripheral nerves growing toward the spinal cord as early as E12 and in the marginal zone of the cord from E13 (Kawasaki et al, 2003). This early onset of expression in growing axons suggests that NCS-1 may be involved in axogenesis (Kawasaki et al, 2003).…”

“…In the developing rat spinal cord, NCS-1 is found in peripheral nerves growing toward the spinal cord as early as E12 and in the marginal zone of the cord from E13 (Kawasaki et al, 2003). This early onset of expression in growing axons suggests that NCS-1 may be involved in axogenesis (Kawasaki et al, 2003). While the mechanism by means of which NCS-1 may regulate process outgrowth in any of these systems is not known, the apparent conservation of expression in early growing axons suggests common mechanisms are plausible.…”

Structural and Functional Deficits in a Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1 Mutant Identified in a Case of Autistic Spectrum Disorder

“…In multicellular organisms, it has multiple binding partners [4] and is involved in a range of cellular processes, though in broad terms, it has been most associated with central nervous system development and with neurotransmission. A role in development may be inferred from its regulation of neurite outgrowth and synapse formation, which has been seen in flies, molluscs, birds and mammals [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11]. The likely importance of NCS-1 in complex and highly specialised developmental programs is suggested by studies showing that its transcription is under the control of homeobox and patterning genes in C. elegans, and that its expression is required for formation of the semicircular canals in zebrafish [12], [13], [14].…”

Neuronal calcium sensor-1 modulation of optimal calcium level for neurite outgrowth

“…For instance, NCS-1 expression increases in grey matter and decreases in white matter during embryogenesis and early postnatal stages (Kawasaki et al, 2003). Overexpression of NCS-1 in NG108-15/rat myotube co-cultures (Chen et al, 2001), and of the Drosophila homologue Frequenin (Frq) in motor nerve terminals (Angaut-Petit et al, 1998), reduces the number of neurites.…”