Vasoactive intestinal contractor/endothelin-2 gene expression in the murine central nervous system.
Vasoactive intestinal contractor (VIC) is a member of the endothelin (ET) family. We have investigated the regional distribution of VIC/ET-2 and of ET-1 gene expression in the adult murine brain and pituitary gland. We used real-time quantitative reverse transcription-linked polymerase chain reaction. VIC/ET-2 gene expression was observed at high levels in the pituitary gland and medulla oblongata in both the mouse and rat. Moderate to low levels of expression were observed in other brain regions. On the contrary, ET-1 gene expression was quite low in the pituitary gland in comparison with the levels observed in the cerebral cortex, striatum, and midbrain. Cold injury to the mouse cerebral cortex caused a significant decrease in VIC/ET-2 gene expression in this structure, whilst expression of the ET-1 gene was increased. These results suggest that VIC/ET-2 may have certain physiological roles that differ from those of ET-1 in the brain and pituitary gland.
Masuo
Yoshinori
Y
International Patent Organism Depositary, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba Central 6, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8566, Japan. y-masuo@aist.go.jp
Ishikawa
Yoko
Y
Kozakai
Takaharu
T
Uchide
Tsuyoshi
T
Komatsu
Yasuhiko
Y
Saida
Kaname
K
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003452:Cryosurgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D019333:Endothelin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors
D019332:Endothelin-1; D019333:Endothelin-2; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; C059568:vasoactive intestinal constrictor