Expression of serotonergic system components during early Xenopus embryogenesis.
Despite abundant research studies on the physiological and biochemical nature of embryonic neurotransmitter function, little is known about the molecular genetic mechanisms involved.  The expression of the main components of the serotonergic system during early Xenopus embryogenesis was investigated using RT-PCR, real time PCR and in situ hybridization. Transcripts encoding the serotonin receptors HTR2C and HTR7, as well as the vesicular monoamine transporter VMAT2, the serotonin transporter (SERT) and the serotonin synthesis enzymes tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH2) and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD) were found to be expressed during the cleavage division stages, whereas the degradation enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) was absent. The main components of the serotonergic system were found to be expressed during the earliest stages of embryonic development. The embryonic transmitter mechanism, its complexity, and its variability among various species are discussed.
Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Denis A
DA
Nikishin
Stanislav V
SV
Kremnyov
Victoria V
VV
Konduktorova
Yuri B
YB
Shmukler
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D050493:Vesicular Monoamine Transport Proteins; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase