Transient expression of PG-M/versican, a large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan in developing chicken retina.

We previously showed the expression of PG-M/versican in embryonic chicken retina. In this study, we characterized the alternatively spliced forms of PG-M/versican and their developmental regulation to investigate the implication of PG-M/versican in neurite outgrowth from retinal cells during development. On day 5, the immunolocalization of PG-M was first observed at the inner surface of neural retina. On day 7, the pronounced staining was observed in the nerve fiber layer and inner plexiform layer where neural networks of ganglion cells were being formed. As the development proceeded, more intensive staining was observed in these layers. The staining peaked on day 14 and then decreased. Northern analysis and western blotting revealed the presence of a single-sized transcript (13 kb) and the PG-M/versican core protein (550 kDa) on day 14, but the absence of any transcripts or protein bands on day 20, indicating a transient expression of PG-M+ (VO), the alternatively spliced form with the most abundant sites for the chondroitin sulfate attachment. Taken together, it is likely that PG-M/versican is involved in neurite outgrowth from ganglion cells during retinal development, and antiadhesion activity of its chondroitin sulfate chains may be important for regulation.