The onset of neurotrophin and trk mRNA expression in early embryonic tissues of the quail

Abstract

To determine the role of neurotrophins on the initial development of the avian embryo, RT-PCR was used to detect when mRNA for nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), as well as their respective receptors, trkA, trkB, and trkC, is first expressed in the avian embryo. trkA, BDNF, trkB, NT-3, and trkC mRNA were expressed as early as stage 1 ("prestreak" stage), while NGF mRNA was not expressed until later in development (stage 5, "notochord" stage). Microdissection of Embryonic Day 2 quail (stages 12 to 14) and RT-PCR analysis revealed that the neural crest, neural tube, somites, or notochord all expressed some neurotrophin or trk mRNA. Although a neurotrophin and its appropriate receptor were both often present or absent, in several cases they were present individually, suggesting that they might have either local or target-derived actions.