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An immunohistochemical study of the development of sensorimotor components of the early fetal human spinal cord

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Gavin ClowryORCiD, Jennifer Moss, Dr Lee Clough

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Abstract

Sections from all spinal cord levels from 20 human fetuses, age range 7.5-17 gestational weeks (GW) were immunostained for non-phosphorylated neurofilaments (to reveal motoneurones, spinocerebellar neurones and other large neurones), the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (large proprioreceptive afferents), growth-associated protein 43 kDa (growing axons), glial fibrillary acidic protein (radial glia), synaptophysin (synaptic terminals) the cell-cell recognition molecule ephrin A4 (EphA4) and the ETS transcription factor Er81 (subclasses of motoneurone and proprioreceptive neurone). Muscle afferents crossed the dorsal horn by 7.5 GW and innervated motoneurones by 9 GW. An alignment of glial fibres guided them from dorsal columns to ventral horn, at right angles to the radial glia. They continued to provide a dense innervation of motoneurone pools up to 17 GW. By 13 GW motoneurones were segregated into distinct columns, all of which expressed EphA4 although only certain lateral groups expressed Er81. However, Er81 expression was more widespread amongst dorsal root ganglion neurones. From 9 GW Clarke's column neurones were identified and by 14 GW were heavily innervated by parvalbumin-positive afferents whilst their efferent axons could be traced to the lateral funiculus. This investigation contributes towards a timetable for the functional development of human motor control and makes comparisons with well-studied rodent models. © Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2005.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Clowry GJ, Moss JA, Clough RL

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Anatomy

Year: 2005

Volume: 207

Issue: 4

Pages: 313-324

Print publication date: 01/10/2005

ISSN (print): 0021-8782

ISSN (electronic): 1469-7580

Publisher: Wiley

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2005.00468.x

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2005.00468.x

PubMed id: 16191161


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Wellcome Trust
G9826762Medical Research Council

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