title: Somatostatin gene expression in the thymus gland.
abstract: A complex pattern of interactions appears to exist between the immune and neuroendocrine systems. Recently, vasopressin, oxytocin and vasoactive intestinal peptide have been isolated from the thymus. Using a rat somatostatin antisense RNA probe we have demonstrated expression of the somatostatin gene in the rat thymus. Furthermore, we have shown that the levels of thymic somatostatin mRNA exhibit a bell-shaped response to dexamethasone administration. Lipocortin I and II antisense RNA probes have been used as a positive control for the effects of the dexamethasone. We would suggest that somatostatin acts in the thymus in a paracrine mode to modulate T lymphocyte development.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Centre, Prince Henry's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verity
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005796:Genes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000235:genetics*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013004:Somatostatin; D003907:Dexamethasone