title: Ontogeny of vesicular monoamine transporter mRNAs VMAT1 and VMAT2. I. The developing rat central nervous system.
abstract: We used in situ hybridization histochemistry to study the expression of the mRNA of the two vesicular monoamine transporters (VMAT1 and VMAT2) during embryonic and postnatal development of the central nervous system (CNS) in the rat. In the adult rat, VMAT2 mRNA is present exclusively in monoaminergic cell groups of the CNS and VMAT1 mRNA was reported to be present in the adrenal medulla and certain intestinal epithelial cells. In contrast to the above, the expression of VMAT1 mRNA has previously never been detected in the central nervous system. This study shows the first evidence that both transporter molecules are expressed in CNS during ontogenesis. We here demonstrate four main expression patterns detected during development: 1. VMAT2 mRNA expression in monoaminergic neurons of the brainstem beginning as early as embryonic day E13. 2. Expression of VMAT2 mRNA in all major sensory relay nuclei of central nervous system. 3. Co-expression of VMAT1 and VMAT2 mRNA in most limbic structures, basal ganglia, as well as in some hypothalamic nuclei. 4. Exclusive expression of VMAT1 mRNA in the neocortical subventricular zone, in the amygdala at early (E15-18) and late (P1-P28) timepoints, the granular cell layer of cerebellum, and in several brainstem motor nuclei. Based on their distribution during development we suggest that monoamines, released in a controlled fashion, might affect wiring of sensory and also motor circuits. VMAT1 mRNA expression may reflect a specific effect of monoamines in glial differentiation and cerebellar granule cell migration and/or differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Unit on Molecular Pharmacology, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Regulation, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda MD, USA.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mezey
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008032:Limbic System / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D009928:Organ Specificity; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D050492:Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C493451:Slc18a1 protein, rat; C493454:Slc18a2 protein, rat; D050492:Vesicular Biogenic Amine Transport Proteins; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins