Brain expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and its regulation by steroid hormones in the European eel quantified by real-time PCR.
In the eel, dopamine inhibits pubertal development. To investigate the regulatory mechanisms involved, we developed a quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay for measurement of brain expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of dopamine. TH expression was highest in the olfactory bulb, followed by the di-/mesencephalic areas and the telencephalon/preoptic area. TH expression in the optic lobes and hindbrain was low or below the detection limit. In vivo treatment with testosterone, but not estradiol, resulted in increased TH expression in the forebrain, except the optic tectum, but not in the hindbrain. The results were confirmed by in situ hybridization.
Weltzien
F-A
FA
USM 0401, UMR 5178 CNRS/MNHN/UPMC Biologie des Organismes Marins et Ecosystèmes, Département des Milieux et Peuplements Aquatiques, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.
Pasqualini
C
C
Le Belle
N
N
Vidal
B
B
Vernier
P
P
Dufour
S
S
D000811:Anguilla / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase