Expression of Src family during development of the mouse nervous system

This work provides insight the function of Src proto-oncogene in neurogenes is by immunohistochemically investigating the distribution and time course of development of 8 src-related protein-tyrosine kinases (c-Src, Fyn, Yes, Lyn, Lck, Hck, Fgr, Blk) in vivo in the developing nervous system of a mous e. Experimental results indicate that all members of Src family are express ed early in dividing cells in the neural plate by embryonic day 8 and, then , maintained in the central and peripheral nervous system until late prenat al stages. The immunoreactivity is widely distributed not only in the brain and spinal cord, but also in neural crest-derived structures, including sp inal and sympathetic ganglia. Src-positive structures found in the fetal br ain are primarily located in the forebrain and diencephalon. In addition, h igh levels of immunoreactivity can be observed in special sensory organs su ch as the retina and otic vesicle. Although various members closely resembl e each other in terms of the overall pattern of immunoreactivity, implying an overlapping functional aspects of different members of the family, a sli ght difference arises in the time course of expression and staining intensi ty. Moreover, the early appearance, high levels and wide distribution of in dividual members of the Src family in the mouse's nervous system suggest th at these gene products profoundly influence neuronal differentiation and ma turation.