Expression of discoidin domain receptor 1 during mouse brain development follows the progress of myelination

Discoidin domain receptor 1 is a tyrosine kinase receptor expressed in a variety of tissues including the brain. This study describes mRNA and protein expression of discoidin domain receptor 1 in mouse brain during development and provides new insights into its role during gliogenesis and neurogenesis. We performed in situ hybridization for discoldin domain receptor 1 in mouse brains at embryonic day 18, postnatal days 5, 9, 15, 21 and adulthood and observed a diffuse pattern in the proliferative areas during embryogenesis. From postnatal day 5 onwards, a defined cellular expression pattern of discoldin domain receptor 1 was observed, mainly located in white matter tracts and following a spatio-temporal pattern that overlapped the progress of myelination. Next, we performed double-labeling reactions (in situ hybridization followed by immunohistochernistry) that confirmed that discoidin domain receptor 1 was expressed by mature oligodendrocytes. We observed that cells positive for discoidin domain receptor 1 also expressed carnosine and antiadenomatous polyposis coli, two mature oligodendrocyte markers. Based on the localization of discoidin domain receptor I specifically in the white matter fiber tracts during postnatal development, we suggest that discoldin domain receptor I participates in the development and maintenance of the myelin sheath. (c) 2006 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.