Expression of a neuropeptide, endothelin-1 in pons and medulla of prenatal and perinatal mouse brains.
Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, is widely distributed in the central nervous system. This article demonstrates the spatio-temporal expression of mouse preproendothelin-1 (mPPET-1) gene in pre- and perinatal mouse brain by in situ hybridization using a probe specific for mPPET-1. mPPET-1 mRNA expression was first observed in medulla at embryonic age 11.5 (E11.5) and the level became increasingly stronger toward later stages of development. At E18.5 and postnatal day 0.5 (D0.5), mPPET-1 mRNA was found in discrete nucleus group in ventrolateral medulla. mPPET-1 mRNA was also detected in thalamic reticular nucleus at E16.5, E18.5, and D0.5. These results showed that mPPET-1 mRNA is present in neurons of central cardiorespiratory region and drastically increased during the transition from episodic fetal breathing to continuous postnatal respiration (E18.5 to D0.5), implicating the important role of ET-1 in central cardiorespiratory control regulating the onset of respiration during this critical period.
Tsang
Margaret C S
MC
Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Lo
Amy C Y
AC
Chan
Theobald S K
TS
Chung
Stephen S M
SS
Chung
Sookja K
SK
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019333:Endothelin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019334:Endothelin-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011149:Pons / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
D019332:Endothelin-1; D019333:Endothelin-2; D019334:Endothelin-3; D012333:RNA, Messenger