title: Molecular fingerprint of neuropeptide S-producing neurons in the mouse brain.
abstract: Neuropeptide S (NPS) has been associated with a number of complex brain functions, including anxiety-like behaviors, arousal, sleep-wakefulness regulation, drug-seeking behaviors, and learning and memory. In order to better understand how NPS influences these functions in a neuronal network context, it is critical to identify transmitter systems that control NPS release and transmitters that are co-released with NPS. For this purpose, we generated several lines of transgenic mice that express enhanced green-fluorescent protein (EGFP) under control of the endogenous NPS precursor promoter. NPS/EGFP-transgenic mice show anatomically correct and overlapping expression of both NPS and EGFP. A total number of ∼500 NPS/EGFP-positive neurons are present in the mouse brain, located in the pericoerulear region and the Kölliker-Fuse nucleus. NPS and transgene expression is first detectable around E14, indicating a potential role for NPS in brain development. EGFP-positive cells were harvested by laser-capture microdissection, and mRNA was extracted for expression profiling by using microarray analysis. NPS was found co-localized with galanin in the Kölliker-Fuse nucleus of the lateral parabrachial area. A dense network of orexin/hypocretin neuronal projections contacting pericoerulear NPS-producing neurons was observed by immunostaining. Expression of a distinct repertoire of metabotropic and ionotropic receptor genes was identified in both NPS neuronal clusters that will allow for detailed investigations of incoming neurotransmission, controlling neuronal activity of NPS-producing neurons. Stress-induced functional activation of NPS-producing neurons was detected by staining for the immediate-early gene c-fos, thus supporting earlier findings that NPS might be part of the brain stress response network.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA.
authors: Xiaobin
authors: X
authors: Liu
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Zeng
authors: Anni
authors: A
authors: Zhou
authors: Elvar
authors: E
authors: Theodorsson
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Fahrenkrug
authors: Rainer K
authors: RK
authors: Reinscheid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C539972:neuropeptide S, mouse