OBJECTIVE: Protein Isl-1 RNA interference and over expression in early chicken embryo dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were used to investigate the function of Isl-1 in DRG cell proliferation.
METHODS: Isl-1 targeted shRNA expression vector and Isl-1 over-expression vector were transfected into chicken embryo DRG by in ovo electroporation. Then, the DRG proliferation rate was detected by BrdU immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: The rate of DRG cell proliferation increased after Isl-1 knock-down and decreased after Isl-1 over-expression.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that Isl-1 negatively modulates DRG cell proliferation.