Functional characterizations of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript mRNA expression in rat hypothalamus.
Anatomical relationships of hypothalamic cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) with other hypothalamic neuropeptides were examined by using in situ hybridization histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. CART mRNA was found in various regions in rat hypothalamus, including the periventricular nucleus, paraventricular nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus, perifornical regions, lateral nucleus, and the arcuate nucleus. In the paraventricular nucleus, CART mRNA is colocalized with vasopressin and corticotropin-releasing factor-containing neurons. Moreover, either fasting or diabetes attenuates CART mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, demonstrating that CART mRNA regulation is related to the fuel availability and peripheral hormonal status. Our findings suggest that the presence of CART mRNA in specific cell groups of the hypothalamus plays a role in hypothalamic regulation of neuroendocrine functions.
Li
Hui-Yun
HY
Department of Anatomy, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan. hyli@mail.cgu.edu.tw
Hwang
Hui-Wen
HW
Hu
Yin-Hui
YH
D000818:Animals; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
D007328:Insulin; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone