Transient expression of the vesicular monoamine transporter during development in the rat thalamus and cortex.
The postnatal developmental pattern of the central vesicular monoamine transporter-2 (VMAT2) was analyzed in the rat brain by means of quantitative autoradiography with a specific and high affinity ligand [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine ([3H]TBZOH). We show a dense expression of VMAT2 in the cortex (especially area 17) and thalamus (particularly the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus) at postnatal days 1 and 8. This pattern of VMAT2 distribution was transient since it was no longer observed at day 20 or in the adult rat brain where VMAT2 density was weak and uniform in these regions. These data suggest that monoamine vesicular storage participates in the early postnatal maturation of thalamus and cortex.
Leroux-Nicollet
I
I
Unité de Neuropsychopharmacologie Expérimentale, UPRESA CNRS 6036, IFRMP 23, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, France. neuro.psyphar@univ-rouen.fr
Costentin
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011859:Radiography; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013747:Tetrabenazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D013788:Thalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014316:Tritium / Q000378:metabolism; D050492:Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C493454:Slc18a2 protein, rat; D050492:Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins; D014316:Tritium; C032811:dihydrotetrabenazine; D013747:Tetrabenazine