title: Zinc distribution and expression pattern of ZnT3 in mouse brain.
abstract: To explore the relationship between the zinc distribution and zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) mRNA expression in the mouse brain, zinc contents and its distribution were determined by synchrotron radiation x-ray fluorescence (SRXRF), and ZnT3 mRNA expression was examined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. The results showed that the zinc contents were not distributed evenly in various brain tissues. The zinc contents in cerebral cortex and hippocampus were nearly 5-10 times higher than that in other neural locations. Correspondingly, ZnT3 mRNA expression was observed in high abundance in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and testis, but was not detected in other organs and tissues. In the nervous system, ZnT3 mRNA was detected mainly in hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and spinal ganglion. The present results show the coincident distribution of zinc and ZnT3 mRNA in mouse brain. The high zinc contents might be determined by the high expression of ZnT3. More meaningfully, the results showed the feasibility of applying of SRXRF in examining the distribution of minerals in different organs and tissues. In addition, it was observed for the first time that ZnT3 mRNA was expressed in the facial nucleus. The function of ZnT3 in facial nucleus awaits further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Military Hygiene, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China. shenhuicn@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Fudi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuanxun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiajun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jiangang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Haigong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Junsheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C491177:Slc30a3 protein, mouse; D015032:Zinc