title: TrkA NGF receptor expression by non-cholinergic thalamic neurons.
abstract: Expression of the trkA receptor for nerve growth factor was analyzed by mRNA in situ hybridization in the telencephalon and diencephalon in adult rats. Two densely packed populations expressing trkA mRNA were detected in the thalamus, in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus anterior and reuniens thalamic nucleus. These neurons did not express mRNA coding for choline acetyltransferase. In basal forebrain and striatum, trkA and choline acetyltransferase mRNAs showed identical patterns of expression, supporting the view that trkA expression is confined to cholinergic population in these areas. In contrast, cholinergic neurons of the medial habenula did not express trkA mRNA. Our findings suggest the existence of previously undiscovered populations of non-cholinergic, NGF responsive populations in the thalamis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurogenerotology, Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Venero
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hefti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020917:Receptor, trkA; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016375:Antisense Elements (Genetics); D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020917:Receptor, trkA