Expression of Pcdh15 in the inner ear, nervous system and various epithelia of the developing embryo.

We previously determined that Protocadherin 15 (Pcdh15) is associated with the Ames waltzer mutation in the mouse. Here we describe where the Pcdh15 gene is expressed at specific times during mouse development using RNA in situ hybridization. The expression of Pcdh15 is found in the sensory epithelium in the developing inner ear, in Rathke's pouch, and broadly throughout the brain with the highest level of expression being detected at embryonic day 16 (E16). Pcdh15 transcripts are also found in the developing eye, dorsal root ganglion, and the dorsal aspect of the neural tube, floor plate and ependymal cells adjacent to the neural canal. Additionally, expression is also detected in the developing glomeruli of the kidney, surface of the tongue, vibrissae, bronchi of the lung, and in the epithelium of the olfactory apparatus, gut and lung.