title: Identification and distribution of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)-positive neurons in the planarian Dugesia japonica.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and 21st Century COE Program, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Misasagi, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
authors.forename: Kaneyasu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Umesono
authors.forename: Kanji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.forename: Kosei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Kiyokazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Agata
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D019393:Arrestin; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012701:Serotonin; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase