title: TTF-1 expression in PACAP-expressing retinal ganglion cells.
abstract: In mammals light input resets the central clock of the suprachiasmatic nucleus by inducing secretion of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) from retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We previously showed that thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1), a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, specifically regulates PACAP gene expression in the rat hypothalamus. In the present study we examined the expression of TTF-1 in PACAP-synthesizing retinal cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that it is abundantly expressed in RGCs of the superior region of the retina, but in only a small subset of RGCs in the inferior region. Double FISH experiments revealed that TTF-1 is exclusively expressed in PACAP-producing RGCs. These results suggest that TTF-1 plays a regulatory role in PACAP-expressing retinal ganglion cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 680-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Young June
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Jeong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Byung Ju
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C000614416:Nkx2-1 protein, rat; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors