Abstract
The POU domain transcription factor Oct-6 (SCIP/Tst-1) is likely to control important stages of Schwann cell development, including the initiation of myelination around birth. Here, we use immunocytochemical and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction techniques to examine Oct-6 earlier in nerve development, to test the idea that Oct-6 has an additional role in Schwann cell precursors or early embryonic Schwann cells, a possibility raised by previous studies on transgenic mice. Consistent with this, we find low but unambiguous levels of Oct-6 mRNA and protein in Schwann cell precursors of mouse and rat (nerves from 12- and 14-day-old embryos, respectively), with expression levels gradually increasing during early Schwann cell development and towards birth. Unexpectedly, Oct-6 immunoreactivity is clearly present in nuclei of most myelinating cells at least as late as postnatal day 12. Furthermore, many nonmyelinating Schwann cells express Oct-6 in adult life. A comparison of Oct-6 mRNA with other Schwann cell transcription factors-namely, Oct-1, Krox-20, and Pax-3-reveals that each factor exhibits strong developmental regulation and a unique expression pattern in embryonic nerves. Therefore, they are likely to play distinct regulatory roles in early development of the Schwann cell lineage.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Cell Lineage
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DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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Early Growth Response Protein 2
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Fetal Proteins / biosynthesis
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Fetal Proteins / genetics
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Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
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Gestational Age
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Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis*
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
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Host Cell Factor C1
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In Situ Hybridization
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Mice
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Myelin Sheath / physiology*
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Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / metabolism
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis*
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Octamer Transcription Factor-1
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Octamer Transcription Factor-6
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PAX3 Transcription Factor
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Paired Box Transcription Factors
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Peripheral Nerves / embryology
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Peripheral Nerves / growth & development
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Peripheral Nerves / metabolism*
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Schwann Cells / metabolism*
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Sciatic Nerve / embryology
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Sciatic Nerve / growth & development
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Sciatic Nerve / metabolism
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Stem Cells / metabolism
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Sympathetic Nervous System / embryology
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Sympathetic Nervous System / growth & development
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Sympathetic Nervous System / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
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Transcription Factors / genetics
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Early Growth Response Protein 2
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Egr2 protein, mouse
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Egr2 protein, rat
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Fetal Proteins
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Hcfc1 protein, mouse
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Host Cell Factor C1
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Octamer Transcription Factor-1
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PAX3 Transcription Factor
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Paired Box Transcription Factors
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Pou2f1 protein, mouse
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Pou2f1 protein, rat
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Pou3f1 protein, mouse
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Pou3f1 protein, rat
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RNA, Messenger
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Transcription Factors
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Octamer Transcription Factor-6
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Pax3 protein, mouse