G. Scicolone et al., TEMPORAL PATTERN OF PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR ACTIVITY IN THE DEVELOPING CHICK CEREBELLUM, International journal of developmental neuroscience, 15(7), 1997, pp. 875-882
Plasminogen activators are considered to be involved in several develo
pmental events. The present work aims at characterizing the developmen
tal pattern of expression of plasminogen activators in the chick cereb
ellum. Soluble fractions derived by ultracentrifugation from Triton X-
100 treated membrane fractions were used for determination of the enzy
me activity with a radial fibrinolytic assay. By using specific inhibi
tors and different anti-plasminogen activators antibodies it is shown
that only one type of the enzyme, the urokinase-type plasminogen activ
ator, is expressed during the cerebellum ontogeny. Our results show th
e existence of a bimodal pattern of enzyme activity with two peaks tha
t temporally coincide with the processes of massive neuronal migration
, neurite outgrowth and synapse formation and plasticity. It is propos
ed that plasminogen activator could play a role in these developmental
events and that its pattern of variability is developmentally regulat
ed. (C) 1997 ISDN. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.