Gamma Protocadherin Expression in the Embryonic Chick Nervous System

Abstract

Protocadherin gamma (pcdh-gamma) family expression was examined in the embryonic chick central nervous system by in situ hybridization. Transcripts were visualized in discrete regions of fore-, mid-, and hindbrain at stages 23 and 25 and in spinal cord and optic lobe at stages 27 and 43, respectively. Results suggest that pcdh-gamma may function cooperatively with other cell adhesion molecules in neuronal differentiation and establishment of neural networks in several areas of the developing brain, particularly regions involved in visual processing. Originally published International Journal of Biological Sciences, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2007