title: Sema3A and neuropilin-1 expression and distribution in rat white adipose tissue.
abstract: Semaphorins are cell surface and/or soluble signals that exert an inhibitory control on axon guidance. Sema3A, the vertebrate-secreted semaphorin, binds to neuropilin-1, which together with plexins constitutes the functional receptor. To verify whether Sema3A is produced by white adipocytes and, in that case, to detect its targets in white adipose tissue, we studied the cell production and tissue distribution of Sema3A and neuropilin-1 in rat retroperitoneal and epididymal adipose depots. Sema3A and neuropilin-1 were detected in these depots by Western blotting. The immunohistochemical results showed that Sema3A is produced in, and possibly secreted by, smooth muscle cells of arteries and white adipocytes. Accordingly, neuropilin-1 was found on perivascular and parenchymal nerves. Such a pattern of distribution is in line with a role for secreted Sema3A in the growth and plasticity of white adipose tissue nerves. Indeed, after fasting, when white adipocytes are believed to be overstimulated by noradrenaline and rearrangement of the parenchymal nerve supply may occur, adipocytic expression of Sema3A is reduced. Finally, the presence of neuropilin-1 in some white adipocytes raises the interesting possibility that Sema3A also exerts an autocrine-paracrine role on these cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Normal Human Morphology, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cesari
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Capparuccia
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellucci
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cinti
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication / Q000502:physiology; D017776:Autonomic Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D039942:Neuropilin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D040121:Semaphorin-3A
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C488218:Sema3a protein, rat; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D039942:Neuropilin-1; D009638:Norepinephrine