Dendritic synthesis and release of the neuropeptide galanin: morphological evidence from studies on rat locus coeruleus neurons.
Dendritic synthesis and release of neuropeptides have been demonstrated in hypothalamic neurosecretory neurons. Here we tested whether this mechanism may be applicable to galanin in rat locus coeruleus (LC) neurons. Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry demonstrated the occurrence of galanin peptide in secretory granules within dendritic processes. In situ hybridization at the light and electron microscopic level showed galanin mRNA in these LC processes. Moreover, the levels of the transcript and its extension into the dendrites were significantly increased by reserpine treatment. Finally, evidence for exocytotic release from large dense-core vesicles in LC dendrites was obtained by using tannic acid-treated slices. Taken together, these results indicate that galanin can be synthesized in, and possibly released from, LC. These data support a key function of the neuropeptide galanin as an auto-paracrine local modulator in a major, strongly divergent monoaminergic regulatory system.
Vila-Porcile
Evelyne
E
INSERM UMRS 952, CNRS UMR 72224, Université Paris 6, 75252 Paris cedex 05, France.
Xu
Zhi-Qinq David
ZQ
Mailly
Philippe
P
Nagy
Frédéric
F
Calas
André
A
Hökfelt
Tomas
T
Landry
Marc
M
D000818:Animals; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D019004:Galanin / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012110:Reserpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013634:Tannins / Q000494:pharmacology
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; C489169:Gal protein, rat; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013634:Tannins; D019004:Galanin; D012110:Reserpine