Brn-3a is required for the generation of proprioceptors in the mesencephalic trigeminal tract nucleus

H. Ichikawa, F. Qiu, M. Xiang, T. Sugimoto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The distribution of motor and proprioceptive neurons was investigated in the trigeminal nervous system of wild-type and Brn-3a knockout mice at embryonic day 18.5 and postnatal day 0. We found that the trigeminal motor nucleus (Mo5) contained abundant motoneurons in wild-type (mean number ± SD per section = 128 ± 22, range = 93-167) and knockout (mean number ± SD per section = 121 ± 23, range = 75-158) mice and that the cell size of Mo5 neurons was similar between these mice (wild-type, mean ± SD = 165 ± 59 μm2, range = 65-326 μm2; knockout, mean ± SD = 167 ± 59 μm2, range = 71-327 μm 2). Mo5 neurons were immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide and such immunoreactive neurons were abundant in both wild-type and mutant mice. In the mesencephalic tract nucleus (Mes5) of wild-type mice, many proprioceptors (mean number ± SD per section = 56 ± 19, range = 27-85) that contained parvalbumin immunoreactivity were also observed. In knockout mice, however, Mes5 neurons could not be detected. The area of brainstems which normally contained the Mes5 was devoid of parvalbumin- immunoreactive proprioceptors. The present study suggests that Brn-3a is required for the development of proprioceptors but not motoneurons in the trigeminal nervous system.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)203-206
Number of pages4
JournalBrain Research
Volume1053
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 16 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Knockout mouse
  • Parvalbumin
  • Proprioceptor
  • Transcription factor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Developmental Biology

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