title: Molecular cloning of an oxytocin-like receptor expressed in the chicken shell gland.
abstract: The avian homologs of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) are arginine vasotocin (AVT) and mesotocin (MT), respectively. In birds, AVT shares many of the functions of AVP including regulation of fluid balance, blood pressure regulation and the stress response. AVT also plays an oxytocin-like reproductive role in birds by stimulating uterine (shell gland) contraction during oviposition. The role of MT in avian reproduction is not clear. Here, we report the cloning of a third neuropeptide receptor in the chicken (Gallus gallus). Parsimony analysis reveals that the new receptor has highest homology to mammalian OT receptors and the MT receptors of non-mammalian vertebrates. Moreover, the receptor bears far less homology to the two avian VT receptors that have been cloned. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and in in situ hybridization analyses reveal the receptor is expressed in both the endometrium and myometrium of the shell gland. The expression pattern and high homology to OT receptors suggest that the receptor may stimulate myometrial contraction and therefore play a critical role in oviposition.
authors: Department of Biology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 2801 S. University, Little Rock, AR 72204, USA.
authors: Konstantin I
authors: KI
authors: Gubrij
authors: Chandra M
authors: CM
authors: Chaturvedi
authors: Nawab
authors: N
authors: Ali
authors: Lawrence E
authors: LE
authors: Cornett
authors: John D
authors: JD
authors: Kirby
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Wilkerson
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Mikhailova
authors: Michael L
authors: ML
authors: Turner
authors: Dennis A
authors: DA
authors: Baeyens
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D010058:Oviposition; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; C001713:mesotocin; D010121:Oxytocin; D014668:Vasotocin