Expression of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase II and V in rat injured sciatic nerves.

Beta-1,4-Galactosyltransferases II and V (beta-1,4-GalT II and V) are involved in the biosynthesis of N-linked oligosaccharides as beta-1,4-GalT I which plays important roles in promoting neuron outgrowth. In the present paper, it was illustrated that beta-1,4-GalT II and V were localized mainly in Schwann cells of lesion sciatic nerves by in situ hybridization. Northern blot showed that the expression of beta-1,4-GalT II increased gradually at both stumps of injured nerves, while that of beta-1,4-GalT V decreased at proximal stumps but increased and reached its peak on the third day post-operation at distal stumps, before it declined. The different expression of beta-1,4-GalT II and V in Schwann cells suggested that they would affect the different galactosylation of glycoproteins in injured nerves regeneration.