Glial cell line neurotrophic factor-family receptor alpha-1 is present in central neurons with distinct phenotypes.
Glial cell line neurotrophic factor(GDNF) is a potent survival factor for several types of neurons. GDNF binds with high affinity to the GDNF-family receptor alpha-1 (GFRalpha-1) which is expressed in different brain areas. In the present study, by using anatomical techniques, we document the phenotypic diversity among GFRalpha-1 expressing neurons in the CNS. GFRalpha-1 expression was found in GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)-containing neurons distributed in the cortex, reticular thalamic nucleus and septum. While high expression of GFRalpha-1 was often observed in cholinergic motoneurons in the spinal cord, very few septal cholinergic neurons were found to express GFRalpha-1. GFRalpha-1 transcripts were also detected in catecholaminergic neurons in the periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, dorsal raphe nucleus and locus ceruleus. Within the raphe nucleus, GFRalpha-1 expression was prominent in many serotonergic neurons and in few neurons containing the enzyme nitric oxide synthase. As GFRalpha-1 is activated by GDNF and GDNF-related neurotrophic factors, the widespread distribution of GFRalpha-1 in neurons with different phenotypes indicates that the neuronal activity of these neurons is likely to be affected by GDNF and GDNF-related neurotrophic factors. This would result in the regulation of diverse neuronal pathways in the adult brain. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of IBRO.
Sarabi
A
A
National Institute on Drug Abuse, Cellular Neurophysiology Section, 5500 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Hoffer
B J
BJ
Olson
L
L
Morales
M
M
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D010641:Phenotype; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis
C494989:Gfra1 protein, rat; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D000109:Acetylcholine