Development profile of a fetuin-like glycoprotein in neocortex, cerebrospinal fluid and postnatal tammar wallaby (Macropur eugenii)

Jones, Sarah Elizabeth (1990) Development profile of a fetuin-like glycoprotein in neocortex, cerebrospinal fluid and postnatal tammar wallaby (Macropur eugenii). University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental profile of a fetuin-like glycoprotein (glycoprotein W) in brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of the developing pouch young of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). Glycoprotein W was separated to purity from tammar plasma and used for chemical characterisation, determination of the N-terminal amino acid sequence and raising specific antibodies. A radial immunodiffusion method was used for quantitative determination of glycoprotein W in plasma and CSF in the tammar from newborn to adult. It was found that in plasma the concentration of glycoprotein W increased with age. In contrast, the concentration in CSF was at its highest in the newborn and remained elevated until about day 45 postnatal. It then rapidly fell to reach its adult level by day 150. The ratio of CSF to plasma for glycoprotein W started relatively high and fell progressively with age. Immunocytochemical methods were used to map the distribution of glycoprotein W in the developing brain from newborn until 60 days postnatal. Glycoprotein W was found to be present in the early cells of the cortical plate for a relatively short period of time between postnatal days 6-15. By the use of the neuron specific marker PGP 9.5 the glycoprotein W positive cortical plate cells were identified as neurons. The results presented here are discussed in relation to the structure and developmental distribution of fetuin and α2HS glycoprotein. Possible developmental functions for fetuin and fetuin-like proteins are reviewed.

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