title: ACTH occurrence in teleosts supramedullary neuron clusters: a neuron-glial common language?
abstract: The cross-talk between neurons and glia is receiving increased attention because of its potential role in information processing in the nervous system. We choose the cluster of supramedullary neurons (SN) and glial cells of pufferfish as a suitable model for studying neuron-glial interactions, identifying the implicated cell types and the signalling involved. In particular, among proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, adrenocorticotrope hormone (ACTH)-immunopositivity was found both in SN and in microglial cells. The present results for the first time show the presence of ACTH in microglia of a vertebrate. The role of ACTH is discussed, including its possible neuroprotective function. Moreover, SN immunoreactivity supports the idea that ACTH participates in neurotransmission and/or neuromodulation. In addition to these possible functions, the hypothesis is put forward that ACTH represents a common language by which neurons and glial cells communicate with each other.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, I-41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cuoghi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blasiol
authors.forename: Maria Agnese
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sabatini
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008526:Medulla Oblongata; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000378:metabolism; D023721:Tetraodontiformes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone