Expression of membrane and nuclear melatonin receptors in mouse peripheral organs.
Previous studies have shown that melatonin acts through specific receptors, including MT(1) and MT(2) membrane receptors as well as a nuclear receptor belonging to the orphan nuclear receptor family. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine whether melatonin receptors mRNA is expressed in mouse peripheral tissues. To study the different receptors subtype expression, we have used a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedure followed by Southern hybridization with specific digoxigenin-labeled probes. RT-PCR studies revealed the presence of both MT(1) membrane receptors and ROR(alpha)1 nuclear receptors in all the peripheral tissues examined (brain, heart, lung, liver and kidney). Moreover, the expression of ROR(alpha)1 nuclear receptors was also demonstrated by Western-blot. In contrast, expression of MT(2) membrane receptors was only observed in brain and lung. These results suggest that melatonin, acting through its different subtypes receptors, plays a role in the neuroendocrine regulation of peripheral tissues function.
Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Seville School of Medicine and Virgen Macarena Hospital, Avda. Sánchez Pizjuán 4, 41009 Seville, Spain.
Latifa
L
Naji
Antonio
A
Carrillo-Vico
Juan M
JM
Guerrero
Juan R
JR
Calvo
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D057094:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044123:Receptor, Melatonin, MT2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D057094:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044122:Receptor, Melatonin, MT1; D044123:Receptor, Melatonin, MT2; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin; D015534:Trans-Activators