Immunohistochemical localization of Notch receptors and their ligands in the postnatally developing rat cerebellum.

Although mRNAs of Notch receptors and their ligands are known to be expressed in the postnatally developing rodent cerebellum, their protein localization has been poorly investigated. In the present study, we immunohistochemically examined localization of Notch receptors and their ligands during postnatal cerebellar development in rats. During the first two postnatal weeks, intense signals of Notch1-3 were localized in Bergmann fibers (radial fibers of Bergmann glia), as confirmed by double fluorescent immunohistochemistry. After that, the signals gradually declined into adulthood. Among Notch ligands, Jagged1 and 2 were also localized in Bergmann fibers. These results suggest that cell-cell interactions through Jagged-Notch signaling can occur between Bergmann glia during postnatal cerebellar development.