Expression of four immunoglobulin superfamily adhesion molecules (L1, Nr‐CAM/Bravo, neurofascin/ABGP, and N‐CAM)in the developing mouse spinal cord

To identify cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) expressed by mammalian motoneurons, we applied the polymerase chain reaction to a murine motor neuron‐like cell line, NSC‐34. Using primers derived from a group of Ll‐related CAMs, we cloned two alternatively spliced forms of mouse L1, which differ by a 12‐base‐pair insert, plus putative murine orthologs of the chicken cell adhesion molecules Nr‐CAM/Bravo and neurofascin. All four mRNAs are expressed in NSC‐34 cells, but only neurofascin and the insert‐minus form of Ll are expressed in its neuroblastoma parent, N18TG2. Analysis of RNA in neonatal tissues reveals expression largely restricted to the brain and spinal cord. In situ hybridization histochemistry of spinal cord shows that motoneurons express L1, Nr‐CAM, and neurofascin as well as N‐CAM. Ll and N‐CAM RNAs are detected throughout the period studied (from embryonic day,[E]11 to postnatal day [P]28), whereas Nr‐CAM is expressed only at early ages (<E15) and neurofascin is predominantly expressed postnatally. Moreover, each CAM is expressed by distinct subsets of neighboring cells and at distinct times. For example, Nr‐CAM mRNA is present in floor plate cells of embryonic spinal cord, whereas neurofascin is expressed by a subset of glia postnatally. Finally, we show that each CAM has a distinct spatiotemporal pattern of expression in dorsal root ganglia. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.