Increased expression of p75(NTR) by neural crest-derived cells in vivo during mitosis

The responses to neurotrophic factors may be modulated by changes in the le vels of expression of their receptors. The aim of this study was to determi ne whether neural precursors in vivo show cell cycle phase-dependent change s in expression of p75(NTR) and Ret. Preparations of embryonic mouse gut we re processed for pet or p75(NTR) immunohistochemistry to identify neural cr est-derived cells, and cells undergoing mitosis were identified using a flu orescent nucleic acid stain. Neural crest-derived cells undergoing mitosis showed over twice the levels of p75(NTR) immunoreactivity (pixel intensity measured on a confocal microscope) on their surface to that shown by nonmit otic neural crest cells. However, there was no significant difference betwe en the levels of Pet on mitotic and nonmitotic neural crest cells. NeuroRep ort 11:725-728 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.