title: Molecular identification of GHS-R and GPR38 in Suncus murinus.
abstract: We previously identified ghrelin and motilin genes in Suncus murinus (suncus), and also revealed that motilin induces phase III-like strong contractions in the suncus stomach in vivo, as observed in humans and dogs. Moreover, repeated migrating motor complexes were found in the gastrointestinal tract of suncus at regular 120-min intervals. We therefore proposed suncus as a small laboratory animal model for the study of gastrointestinal motility. In the present study, we identified growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R) and motilin receptor (GPR38) genes in the suncus. We also examined their tissue distribution throughout the body. The amino acids of suncus GHS-R and GPR38 showed high homology with those of other mammals and shared 42% amino acid identity. RT-PCR showed that both the receptors were expressed in the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, pituitary gland and the nodose ganglion in the central nervous system. In addition, GHS-R mRNA expressions were detected throughout the stomach and intestine, whereas GPR38 was expressed in the gastric muscle layer, lower intestine, lungs, heart, and pituitary gland. These results suggest that ghrelin and motilin affect gut motility and energy metabolism via specific receptors expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and/or in the central nervous system of suncus.
authors.affiliation: Area of Regulatory Biology, Division of Life Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Sakura-ku, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Airi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Sayaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.forename: Anupom
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: Koike
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanako
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011964:Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012788:Shrews / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011964:Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone; D054440:Receptors, Ghrelin; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; C050802:motilin receptor