title: Metastin-like immunoreactivity in the rat medulla oblongata and spinal cord.
abstract: Metastin, the product of metastasis suppressor gene KiSS-1, is proposed to be the natural ligand for the G-protein-coupled receptor GPR54, known also as AXOR12. This immunohistochemical study, using a rabbit polyclonal antiserum against the human metastin fragment (45-54)-NH(2), showed that in rats metastin-like immunoreactivity (MTS-LI) was present in neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract and caudoventrolateral reticular nucleus, and in cell processes of the spinal trigeminal tract and lateral reticular nucleus. MTS-LI was confined mainly to neurons and fibers at or caudal to the area postrema. In the spinal cord, MTS-LI cell processes formed a dense plexus in superficial layers I and II of the dorsal horn. The pattern of distribution of MTS-LI in the medulla and spinal cord suggests that this novel peptide may participate in autonomic and sensory neural signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70577, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA.
authors.forename: Siok L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dun
authors.forename: G Cristina
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brailoiu
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xiangqun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jaw Kang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Nae J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Dun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059648:Kisspeptins; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000737:chemistry*; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; C106628:KISS1 protein, human; C491406:Kiss1 protein, rat; D059648:Kisspeptins; D011506:Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins