title: GDNF family ligand receptor components Ret and GFRalpha-1 in the human trigeminal ganglion and sensory nuclei.
abstract: The occurrence of Ret and GFRalpha-1 receptors is shown by immunohistochemistry in the human trigeminal sensory system at pre-, postnatal and adult age. Receptor-labeled neurons occur in both trigeminal ganglion and mesencephalic nucleus. In adult trigeminal ganglion, about 75% of Ret- and 65% of GFRalpha-1-labeled neurons are small- and medium-sized. The proportion of Ret+ and GFRalpha-1+ trigeminal ganglion neurons in the adult is about 25 and 60%, respectively. The majority of Ret+ are double labeled for GFRalpha-1 and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Most of the GFRalpha-1+ cells contain GDNF and about 50% of them contain Ret. Triple labeling shows many Ret+/GDNF+/GFRalpha-1+ neurons, but also a number of Ret-/GDNF+/GFRalpha-1+ and Ret+/GDNF-/GFRalpha-1+ cells. Both Ret+ and GFRalpha-1+ neuronal subpopulations overlap with that containing calcitonin gene-related peptide. Ret+ pericellular basket-like nerve fibers occur in the adult trigeminal ganglion. Centrally, immunoreactivity is restricted to the spinal nucleus pars caudalis and pars interpolaris and to the mesencephalic nucleus. In adult specimens, Ret+ nerve fibers and puncta gather in the inner substantia gelatinosa. Ret+ neurons occur in the spinal nucleus and are more frequent in newborn than in adult subjects. Central GFRalpha-1+-labeled neurons and punctate elements are sparse. These findings support the involvement of GDNF and possibly other cognate ligands in the trophism of human trigeminal primary sensory neurons from prenatal life to adulthood, indicating a selective commitment to cells devoted to protopathic and proprioceptive sensory transmission. They also support the possibility that receptor molecules other than Ret could be active in transducing the ligand signal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytomorphology, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042 Monserrato, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quartu
authors.forename: Maria Pina
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mascia
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boi
authors.forename: Maria Letizia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spano
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Fiacco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000378:metabolism*; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D014278:Trigeminal Nuclei / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C494987:GFRA1 protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; C099282:RET protein, human; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide