title: Brain region and gene specificity of neuropeptide gene expression in cultured astrocytes.
abstract: Astrocytes have many neuronal characteristics, such as neurotransmitter receptors, ion channels, and neurotransmitter uptake systems. Cultured astrocytes were shown to express certain neuropeptide genes, with specificity for both the gene expressed and the brain region from which the cells were prepared. Somatostatin messenger RNA and peptides were detected only in cerebellar astrocytes, whereas proenkephalin messenger RNA and enkephalin peptides were present in astrocytes of cortex, cerebellum, and striatum. Cholecystokinin was not expressed in any of the cells. These results support the hypothesis that peptides synthesized in astrocytes may play a role in the development of the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neuroscience Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shinoda
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cosi
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schwartz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C029992:proenkephalin; D013004:Somatostatin; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine