title: Localization of the melatonin-related receptor in the rodent brain and peripheral tissues.
abstract: Previous studies have provided a limited examination of the expression of the orphan melatonin-related receptor in the pituitary and hypothalamus of human and sheep and retinal tissue in the sheep. The present study reports evidence of conservation of expression in regions of the hypothalamus (dorsal medial hypothalamus, lateral hypothalamus, arcuate nucleus), the epithelial layer lining the third ventricle and the paraventricular thalamic nucleus of the mouse, rat and hamster. An extensive and detailed analysis of melatonin-related receptor mRNA expression in the mouse central nervous system and peripheral tissues is presented. Mapping the distribution throughout the entire mouse brain has revealed new sites of expression in a number of brain nuclei, including preoptic areas, parabrachial nuclei and widespread distribution in the olfactory bulb. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed with RNA isolated from peripheral tissues revealing expression of the melatonin-related receptor mRNA in the mouse kidney, adrenal gland, intestine, stomach, heart, lung, skin, testis and ovary. These results suggest a conserved function in neuroendocrine regulation and a potential role in coordinating physiological responses in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Neuroendocrinology Group, Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, UK. jed@rri.sari.ac.uk
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Drew
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Moar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delagrange
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D006224:Cricetinae; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D020644:Midline Thalamic Nuclei / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D017111:Phodopus; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics*; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014781:Viscera / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins