Dietary calcium deficiency causes a reduction in calretinin mRNA in the substantia nigra compacta-ventral tegmental area of rat brain.
Dietary calcium deprivation (3 weeks) affected neuronal gene expression of calretinin. Calcium deprived rats exhibited calcium appetite, weight loss, and a 28% decrease in calretinin mRNA in the substantia nigra compacta-ventral tegmental area, compared to controls. No changes were detected in 2 other mRNAs (tyrosine hydroxylase, beta-actin) and 5 other brain regions examined. This region-specific reduction of calretinin mRNA may relate to the altered physiology or behavior.
Strauss
K I
KI
NIMH, Lab of Clinical Science, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Jacobowitz
D M
DM
Schulkin
J
J
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D064032:Calbindin 2; D002118:Calcium / Q000172:deficiency*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000235:genetics*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000378:metabolism*
D000199:Actins; C576512:Calb2 protein, rat; D064032:Calbindin 2; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D002118:Calcium