Growth factors and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (mitogen-activated protein kinase) in the rat pineal gland.
The present study revealed that the pineal gland expressed basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and FGF-receptor 1 (FGFR1/flg), suggesting that bFGF in the pineal gland acts in an autocrine or paracrine manner, which is mediated by FGFR1/flg. The present study also examined gene expression of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) family (ERK1-3) which may be intracellular signal mediators of growth factors. ERK1 [mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-kinase)] was strongly expressed throughout the pineal gland, while expression of ERK2 and ERK3 was not found. These findings suggest the presence of a signal pathway from bFGF to ERK1 via FGFR1/flg in the pineal gland.
Kiyama
H
H
Department of Neuroanatomy, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Wanaka
A
A
Kato
H
H
Maeno
H
H
Matsumoto
K
K
Sun
G
G
Shiosaka
S
S
Tohyama
M
M
D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D006133:Growth Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1