Identification and distribution of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)-positive neurons in the planarian Dugesia japonica.
We identified a full-length tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene of planarian Dugesia japonica from a head EST database, and named it DjTPH. Based on whole-mount in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence analyses, DjTPH mRNA and protein were mainly expressed in the nervous system, especially ventral nerve cords and eye pigment cells. Furthermore, DjTPH immunoreactivity was clearly detected at commissure axonal connections in the ventral nerve cords. 5-HT was significantly decreased in DjTPH-knockdown planarians compared with control animals. These results suggest that DjTPH is required for 5-HT biosynthesis, and DjTPH antibody is a useful marker for serotonergic neurons in planarians.
Nishimura
Kaneyasu
K
Department of Neurobiology and 21st Century COE Program, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Misasagi, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
Kitamura
Yoshihisa
Y
Inoue
Takeshi
T
Umesono
Yoshihiko
Y
Yoshimoto
Kanji
K
Takeuchi
Kosei
K
Taniguchi
Takashi
T
Agata
Kiyokazu
K
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D019393:Arrestin / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D005123:Eye / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D010932:Planarians / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology*; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism*
D019393:Arrestin; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012701:Serotonin; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase