EXPRESSION OF CD44H IN THE CELLS OF NEURAL CREST ORIGIN IN PERIPHERALNERVOUS-SYSTEM

WE investigated the expression of the adhesion molecule CD44 in rat pe ripheral nervous system (PNS) at the protein and mRNA levels. Most mig rating neural crest cells strongly expressed CD44, in contrast to the lack of expression in the neural tube. In dorsal root ganglion (DRG) a nd sciatic nerve, the distribution of CD44, neurofilament (NF) and S10 0 suggested the localization of CD44 on the membrane of Schwann cell a nd neurones and in extracellular matrix (ECM). The expression of CD44 was also confirmed on the membrane of cultured neurones and Schwann ce lls from DRG. mRNA coding for the haematopoietic form of CD44, CD44H, was detected in neural crest cells, DRG neurones and Schwann cells. Th ese results show that CD44 may play some role in migration of neural c rest cells and myelination in terms of adhesion between Schwann cells, axons and ECM.