生後ラット三叉神経運動核におけるsrcファミリー蛋白発現の経時的観察

Abstract

Non-receptor-type tyrosine kinases of the Src family, such as Src, Fyn, and Yes, are broadly expressed in the brain and have been suggested to have an important function in the central nervous system. To clarify the role of Src family tyrosine kinases in the developmental process of neurons in the trigeminal motor nucleus that regulate movement of muscles of mastication, we investigated the expressions of c- Src, Fyn, and c-Yes in the trigeminal motor nucleus in rats during the period of transition from suckling to mastication using immunohistochemistry. c-Src expression began to increase on day 14 after birth, on which weaning was started, and the expression reached its peak on day 18, then gradually decreased. Fyn expression was slightly positive in the nuclei in all groups, and there was no difference in the reaction intensity among the groups. c-Yes expression was strongly positive in the cytoplasm and axon in all groups, and there was no difference in reaction intensity among the groups. The above findings suggest that Src family tyrosine kinases are closely involved in the development of motor neuron in the trigeminal motor nucleus and the development and maintenance of masticatory movement.