title: GDNF family ligand RET receptor in the brain of adult zebrafish.
abstract: RET is a tyrosine kinase receptor, and transduces signaling by family of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor ligands (GFLs). RET is involved in the development of enteric nervous system, of sympathetic, parasympathetic, motor and sensory neurons. RET exists in two main isoforms originated by differential splicing, RET9 and RET51; phylogenetic studies have shown that the RET gene is conserved across vertebrates. The aim of this study was to investigate the RET expression within the brain of zebrafish, using immunohistochemistry, western blotting and RT-PCR. In homogenate brains both RET protein and mRNA were observed. RET immunoreactivity was widespread in neurons and neural processes of all the major regions of the brain. These results demonstrate the occurrence of RET and suggest an involvement of GDNF family ligands in the brain of adult zebrafish.
authors.affiliation: Dip Strutture, Funzioni e Tecnologie Biologiche, via Veterinaria 1, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80137 Napoli, Italy. lucini@unina.it
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucini
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patruno
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mascarello
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Girolamo
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castaldo
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008024:Ligands; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret