Nogo is well established for its inhibitory action on axon regeneration in the adult central nervous system. It binds to the Nogo receptor (NgR) through an extracellular active site on the protein-Nogo-66. Although it is reported that Nogo is widely expressed in the developing brain, its exact function during development of the nervous system is unclear. / The contribution of Nogo on patterning the axon routing at the optic chiasm of mouse embryo was investigated in this thesis. Using immunocytochemical staining, Nogo protein was localized on the Miller glial cells in the retina and at the optic disk. A few migrating retinal neurons also expressed Nogo. In the chiasm, Nogo was localized exclusively on the radial glia, which generate a midline domain where turning of uncrossed axons occurs. In vitro study showed expression of NgR on retinal neurites and growth cones, and neurite outgrowth from both dorsal nasal (contralaterally projecting) and ventral temporal (ipsilaterally projecting) retina was inhibited by Nogo. In the pathway, NgR expression was regionally regulated. NgR was obvious in the optic stalk and the optic tract, but not in the chiasm. Blocking Nogo function with NEP1-40, a peptide antagonist of NgR, in brain slice culture of the pathway produced significant reduction in the uncrossed projection, but had no effect on axon crossing at the midline. Furthermore, the age related fiber arrangement in the optic tract was abolished after disturbing of Nogo function. Similar abnormalities were observed in slices treated with Nogo blocking antibody. In vitro studies showed that NEP1-40 rescued the inhibition of Nogo to the retinal neurites. The downregulation of NgR at the chiasm was supported by in vitro assays showing significant reduction of receptor expression on dorsal nasal but not ventral temporal growth cones when they encountered the chiasm, thus generating a differential inhibition to ventral temporal neurites. / These results provide evidences that Nogo is a guidance molecule during the development of CNS. Interaction of Nogo and its receptor plays important role for patterning the axon divergence in the mouse optic pathway and the age related fiber order in the optic tract. / Wang Jun. / "September 2006." / Adviser: Sun-On Chan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-03, Section: B, page: 1474. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-142). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Chan, Chung Kit. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-110). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Abstract in Chinese --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.v / Table of Abbreviations --- p.vi / Table of Contents --- p.vii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Functions of hyaluronan in the development of retinofugal pathway / Introduction --- p.18 / Materials and Methods --- p.19 / Results --- p.23 / Discussion --- p.26 / Figures --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Characterization of Nogo and its receptor in retinofugal pathway using Western blot analysis / Introduction --- p.40 / Materials and Methods --- p.42 / Results --- p.50 / Discussion --- p.52 / Figures --- p.57 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Expression patterns and functions of Sonic hedgehogin retinofugal pathway / Introduction --- p.62 / Materials and Methods --- p.64 / Results --- p.69 / Discussion --- p.76 / Figures --- p.81 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- General Discussion --- p.91 / Figures --- p.95 / References --- p.98