A subset of nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor-expressing neurons in the anterior hypothalamic area, as revealed in mice with lacZ reporter gene.
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is an endogenous peptide agonist for the opioid receptor homolog, N/OFQ receptor, and serves for the central control of autonomic functions. Morphological details including the cell types that may account for such N/OFQ functions, however, remain unclear. By using X-gal histochemistry for the detection of receptor-expressing cells at both light and electron microscopic levels, we examined the hypothalamus from the receptor-deficient mice bearing a lacZ insertional mutation in the N/OFQ receptor gene. The N/OFQ receptor reflected by lacZ expression was seen at high levels in the anterior hypothalamic area. With electron microscopy, lacZ expression was observed in a subset of neurons showing large cell size and indented nucleus.
Houtani
Takeshi
T
Department of Anatomy and Brain Science, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-8506, Japan.
Ikeda
Michiko
M
Kase
Masahiko
M
Sato
Kazuo
K
Sakuma
Satoru
S
Kakimoto
Shingo
S
Ueyama
Teizo
T
Munemoto
Yumi
Y
Takeshima
Hiroshi
H
Sugimoto
Tetsuo
T
D000818:Animals; D007025:Anterior Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D005697:Galactosides; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006652:Histological Techniques; D007211:Indoles; D007763:Lac Operon / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor
D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D005697:Galactosides; D007211:Indoles; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; C044888:5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-galactoside; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor; C000722287:Oprl1 protein, mouse