Expression of janusin (J1-160/180) in the retina and optic nerve of the developing and adult mouse

TY - JOUR

T1 - Expression of janusin (J1-160/180) in the retina and optic nerve of the developing and adult mouse

AU - Bartsch, U

AU - Pesheva, P

AU - Raff, M

AU - Schachner, M

PY - 1993/9

Y1 - 1993/9

N2 - We have analyzed the expression of the oligodendrocyte-derived extra-cellular matrix molecule janusin (previously termed J1-160/180) in the retina and optic nerve of developing and adult mice using indirect light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, immunoblot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the optic nerve, janusin is not detectable in neonatal and only weakly detectable in 7-day-old animals. Expression is at a peak in 2- or 3-week-old animals and subsequently decreases with increasing age. In the retina, expression increases until the third postnatal week and then remains at a constant level. In immunocytochemical investigations at the light microscopic level, janusin was found in the myelinated regions of the nerve with spots of increased immunoreactivity possibly corresponding to an accumulation of the molecule at the nodes of Ranvier. At the electron microscopic level, contact sites between unmyelinated axons, between axons and glial cells, and between axons and processes of myelinating oligodendrocytes were immunoreactive. Cell surfaces of astrocytes at the periphery of the nerve and forming the glial-limiting membrane, in contrast, were only weakly immunopositive or negative. In cell cultures of young postnatal mouse or rat optic nerves, oligodendrocytes and type-2 astrocytes, but not type-1 astrocytes were stained by janusin antibodies. In the oligodendrocyte-free retina, janusin was detectable in association with neuronal cell surfaces, but not with cell surfaces of Müller cells or retinal astrocytes. Our observations indicate that expression of janusin in the optic nerve and in the retina is developmentally differentially regulated and that other cell types, in addition to oligodendrocytes, express the molecule. Since the time course of janusin expression in the optic nerve coincides with the appearance of oligodendrocytes and myelin and since janusin is associated with cell surfaces of oligodendrocytes and outer aspects of myelin sheaths and is concentrated at nodes of Ranvier, we suggest that janusin is functionally involved in the process of myelination.

AB - We have analyzed the expression of the oligodendrocyte-derived extra-cellular matrix molecule janusin (previously termed J1-160/180) in the retina and optic nerve of developing and adult mice using indirect light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, immunoblot analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the optic nerve, janusin is not detectable in neonatal and only weakly detectable in 7-day-old animals. Expression is at a peak in 2- or 3-week-old animals and subsequently decreases with increasing age. In the retina, expression increases until the third postnatal week and then remains at a constant level. In immunocytochemical investigations at the light microscopic level, janusin was found in the myelinated regions of the nerve with spots of increased immunoreactivity possibly corresponding to an accumulation of the molecule at the nodes of Ranvier. At the electron microscopic level, contact sites between unmyelinated axons, between axons and glial cells, and between axons and processes of myelinating oligodendrocytes were immunoreactive. Cell surfaces of astrocytes at the periphery of the nerve and forming the glial-limiting membrane, in contrast, were only weakly immunopositive or negative. In cell cultures of young postnatal mouse or rat optic nerves, oligodendrocytes and type-2 astrocytes, but not type-1 astrocytes were stained by janusin antibodies. In the oligodendrocyte-free retina, janusin was detectable in association with neuronal cell surfaces, but not with cell surfaces of Müller cells or retinal astrocytes. Our observations indicate that expression of janusin in the optic nerve and in the retina is developmentally differentially regulated and that other cell types, in addition to oligodendrocytes, express the molecule. Since the time course of janusin expression in the optic nerve coincides with the appearance of oligodendrocytes and myelin and since janusin is associated with cell surfaces of oligodendrocytes and outer aspects of myelin sheaths and is concentrated at nodes of Ranvier, we suggest that janusin is functionally involved in the process of myelination.

KW - Aging

KW - Animals

KW - Animals, Newborn

KW - Antibodies, Monoclonal

KW - Axons

KW - Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal

KW - Cells, Cultured

KW - Extracellular Matrix Proteins

KW - Fluorescent Antibody Technique

KW - Immunohistochemistry

KW - Mice

KW - Mice, Inbred C57BL

KW - Mice, Inbred ICR

KW - Mice, Inbred Strains

KW - Microscopy, Immunoelectron

KW - Nerve Fibers

KW - Neuroglia

KW - Oligodendroglia

KW - Optic Nerve

KW - Retina

KW - Retinal Ganglion Cells

KW - Tenascin

KW - Journal Article

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1002/glia.440090108

DO - 10.1002/glia.440090108

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 8244531

VL - 9

SP - 57

EP - 69

JO - GLIA

JF - GLIA

SN - 0894-1491

IS - 1

ER -