Expression of the tyrosine kinase receptor EphA5 and its ligand ephrin-A5 during mouse spinal cord development

Objectives To study the expression patterns of two Eph family molecules, the receptor EphA5, and the ligand ephrin-A5, during spinal cord development.Methods The receptor expression was analyzed using beta-galactosidase knockin mice, and affinity ligand probe binding. The ligand expression was assessed using two different affinity probes, and knockout mouse tissues as controls.Results EphA5 was expressed in the ventral spinal cord, while ephrin-A5 was located in the dorsolateral regions of the spinal cord throughout development.Conclusions These results show that EphA5 and ephrin-A5 are expressed over broad developmental stages and may play important roles in establishing the dorsoventral organization of the spinal cord.