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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-5-8
pubmed:databankReference
pubmed:abstractText
Melanocortins are thought to be involved in neuronal development and regeneration. Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), the precursor of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), gamma-MSH, ACTH, and beta-endorphin, becomes detectable in rat hypothalamic neurons from gestational day (E) 12.5. We recently described stage- and region-specific ontogenetic patterns of binding sites for the alpha-MSH analogue [125I]-Nle4,D-Phe7-alpha-MSH ([125I]-NDP), with the first localizations in epithalamus and sympathetic chain at E13. [125I]-NDP binds to all known melanocortin receptors, including MC3-R and MC4-R, the predominant melanocortin receptors in nervous system. To identify the receptor type expressed during ontogeny, the developmental pattern of MC3-R and MC4-R mRNA was investigated by in situ hybridization in fetuses and offspring of time-pregnant Long Evans rats between E14 and postnatal day (P) 27. MC4-R mRNA was found to be the predominant species during the entire fetal period. It was localized in all fetal areas exhibiting distinct [125I]-NDP binding, starting with sympathetic ganglia and epithalamus (E14), and including sensory trigeminal nuclei (E16), dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (E16) and cranial nerve ganglia, inferior olive (E18) and cerebellum (E18), striatal regions (E16), and entorhinal cortex (E22). In contrast, MC3-R mRNA was detectable only in the postnatal period, with a fast increase in expression in the ventromedial and arcuate nuclei. The early presence of MC4-R mRNA in central and peripheral nervous system and transient regional peaks of mRNA expression, often concomitant with periods of neural network formation, suggest a role of this receptor type in early ontogeny. The MC3 receptor may be involved in analogous processes during postnatal development.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
0953-8194
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
10
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
133-46
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
Different developmental patterns of melanocortin MC3 and MC4 receptor mRNA: predominance of Mc4 in fetal rat nervous system.
pubmed:affiliation
Institute of Pharmacology, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't