TRANSIENT COMPARTMENTAL EXPRESSION OF NEUROCAN IN THE DEVELOPING STRIATUM OF THE RAT

The expression of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan neurocan was ex amined in the developing stratum of the rat and compared with the dist ribution of dopaminergic terminals. Neurocan immunoreactivity shows a homogeneous pattern in the embryonic striatum. In the postnatal striat um, neurocan was first expressed within the matrix but not the patch c ompartments, and subsequently within both. These results suggest that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans are involved in formation of connect ions between the substantia nigra and striatum. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, I nc.