Cellular mRNA expression of the transcription factor NGFI-B suggests a gene regulatory role in striatal opiate-peptide neurons.
Previous studies have shown that NGFI-B mRNA is highly expressed in the adult striatum. In the present study we analyzed the anatomical distribution of NGFI-B mRNA within this brain region as well as the degree of co-existence of NGFI-B with different striatal markers in the adult brain. NGFI-B mRNA levels were found to be significantly higher within the dorsomedial portion of the striatum as compared to the ventrolateral striatum. This distribution pattern was maintained throughout the rostro--caudal axis of the striatum. Double in situ hybridization studies showed that striatal NGFI-B mRNA colocalized with a subset of preproenkephalin and prodynorphin positive spiny neurons within the dorsomedial striatum; 22--28% of all opiate-peptide positive cells co-expressed NGFI-B mRNA. NGFI-B did not colocalize with striatal aspiny interneurons expressing choline acetyl transferase mRNA or those containing the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin. The pattern of NGFI-B mRNA expression within different striatal spiny projecting neurons suggests that this transcription factor may have a direct effect on the function of different striatal efferent pathways.
Bäckman
C
C
Cellular Neurophysiology, National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH, 5500 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. cbackman@intra.nida.nih.gov
Hoffer
B J
BJ
Misawa
H
H
Morales
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004399:Dynorphins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D057105:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004745:Enkephalins; C539820:Nr4a1 protein, rat; D057105:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D014157:Transcription Factors; C029992:proenkephalin; D004399:Dynorphins; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase