Distribution of heat shock protein 108 mRNA during the development of the chicken brain

Abstract

The developmental expression of heat shock protein 108 (HSP108) mRNA was mapped in chicken brain using in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RT-PCR showed that HSP108 mRNA increased from embryonic day 5 (E5) to 13 (E13), significantly decreased from E17 to E21 and then increased again at the adult stage. In situ hybridization showed that while intense HSP108 positive (HSP108+) signals were localized in the cerebellum from E7 to E14, the intensities of these signals were significantly decreased at E17. However, at the adult stage, HSP108 expression increased in a cell type dependent manner. A decrease in HSP108 mRNA expression during differentiation was also observed in an in vitro study of brain cells treated with nerve growth factor (NGF). (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.