title: Photoperiodic regulation of histamine H3 receptor and VGF messenger ribonucleic acid in the arcuate nucleus of the Siberian hamster.
abstract: To survive winter the Siberian hamster has evolved profound physiological and behavioral adaptations, including a moult to winter pelage, regression of the reproductive axis, onset of daily torpor and increased capacity for thermogenesis. However, one of the most striking adaptations is the catabolism of intraabdominal and sc fat reserves contributing to the loss of up to 40% of body weight. These physiological and behavioral adaptations are photoperiodically driven, yet neither the site(s) in the brain nor the molecular mechanism(s) involved in the regulation of these profound adaptations is known. Here we report a dynamic regulation of gene expression in a dorsal region of the medial posterior area of the arcuate nucleus (dmpARC) of the Siberian and Syrian hamster brain in response to altered photoperiod. We show mRNA for the histamine H3 receptor is down-regulated and VGF is up-regulated in the dmpARC in hamsters switched from long- to short-day photoperiod. These data provide further evidence to support the view that the dmpARC is a major site to relay photoperiodic changes and as a site for the long-term regulation of seasonal physiology and behavior.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology Group, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, Scotland, United Kingdom. pb@rri.sari.ac.uk
authors.forename: Perry
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Alexander W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Ales
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balik
authors.forename: Pauline A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Littlewood
authors.forename: Julian G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: Kim M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Moar
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sallmen
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaslin
authors.forename: Pertti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panula
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schuhler
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ebling
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ubeaud
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D017440:Photoperiod; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018100:Receptors, Histamine H3; D006632:Histamine; D006640:Histidine Decarboxylase