Expression of VGF mRNA in developing neuroendocrine and endocrine tissues.
Analysis of knockout mice suggests that the neurotropin-inducible secreted polypeptide VGF (non-acronymic) plays an important role in the regulation of energy balance. VGF is synthesized by neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS, PNS), as well as in the adult pituitary, adrenal medulla, endocrine cells of the stomach and pancreatic beta cells. Thus VGF, like cholecystokinin, leptin, ghrelin and other peptide hormones that have been shown to regulate feeding and energy expenditure, is synthesized in both the gut and the brain. Although detailed developmental studies of VGF localization in the CNS and PNS have been completed, little is known about the ontogeny of VGF expression in endocrine and neuroendocrine tIssues. Here, we report that VGF mRNA is detectable as early as embryonic day 15.5 in the developing rat gastrointestinal and esophageal lumen, pancreas, adrenal, and pituitary, and we further demonstrate that VGF mRNA is synthesized in the gravid rat uterus, together supporting possible functional roles for this polypeptide outside the nervous system and in the enteric plexus.
Snyder
S E
SE
Fishberg Research Center for Neurobiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
Peng
B
B
Pintar
J E
JE
Salton
S R J
SR
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology*; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D017385:Sequence Homology; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D050989:GATA2 Transcription Factor; C494711:GATA2 protein, human; C494713:Gata2 protein, rat; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C062040:Vgf protein, rat; C101485:homeobox protein PITX1