Maturational changes in laminin, fibronectin, collagen IV, and perlecan in germinal matrix, cortex, and white matter and effect of betamethasone

Hongmin Xu, Furong Hu, Yoshikazu Sado, Yoshifumi Ninomiya, Dorin Bogdan Borza, Zoltan Ungvari, Edmund F. LaGamma, Anna Csiszar, Maiken Nedergaard, Praveen Ballabh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Germinal matrix is selectively vulnerable to hemorrhage in premature infants, and use of prenatal betamethasone is associated with a lower occurrence of germinal matrix hemorrhage. Because the major components of extracellular matrix of the cerebral vasculature-laminin, fibronectin, collagen IV, and perlecan-provide structural stability to blood vessels, we examined whether the expression of these molecules was decreased in the germinal matrix and affected by betamethasone. In both human fetuses and premature infants, fibronectin was significantly lower in the germinal matrix than in the cortical mantle or white matter anlagen. Conversely, laminin α1 gene expression was greater in the human germinal matrix compared with the cortical mantle or white matter. Expression of α1- and α2(IV) collagen chains increased with advancing gestational age. Low-dose prenatal betamethasone treatment enhanced fibronectin level by 1.5-2-fold whereas a high dose reduced fibronectin expression by 2-fold in rabbit pups. Because fibronectin provides structural stability to the blood vessels, its reduced expression in the germinal matrix may contribute to the fragility of germinal matrix vasculature and the propensity to hemorrhage in premature neonates.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1482-1500
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Neuroscience Research
Volume86
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - May 15 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cerebral cortex
  • Collagen IV
  • Fibronectin
  • GM
  • Germinal matrix hemorrhage
  • Intraventricular hemorrhage
  • Laminin
  • Perlecan
  • White matter

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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