title: Serotonin receptors are selectively expressed in the avian germ cells and early embryos.
abstract: The expression of nine serotonin (5-HT) receptor transcripts was studied using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in germ cells, cleavage and gastrulation stages of Japanese quail, and qPCR for 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors in oocytes and embryos. We show the presence/absence of nine serotonin transcripts known in birds for receptors 5-HT1A, 5-HT1F, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C, 5-HT3, 5-HT4, 5-HT5A, 5-HT6 and 5-HT7A in avian germ cells and early embryos. The absence of 5-HT3 and 5-HT5A in primordial germ cells and of 5-HT3 and 5-HT7A in sperm is characteristic. All transcripts appeared in oocytes at all stages (except for 5-HT3 and 5-HT5A transcripts) and all were present in cleaving embryos and at gastrulation, except for 5-HT3, which was permanently observed as late as in stage 4. Interestingly, 5-HT3 and 5-HT5A receptors accumulated in 3-mm and F1 oocytes but were degraded at ovulation and started to be re-transcribed in cleavage stage II embryos and beyond. The selective appearance of 5-HT receptors in germ cells and early embryos supports the hypothesis that serotonin may act as a signalling molecule at early stages of germ line and embryo differentiation via individual receptors present during different stages, when specialized communication systems are not yet developed.
authors: Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding,Polish Academy of Sciences,Jastrzębiec n/Warsaw,Magdalenka 05-552,Poland.
authors: Urszula
authors: U
authors: Stępińska
authors: International Institute of Avian Conservation Science,Abu-Dhabi,United Arab Emirates.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Kuwana
authors: Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding,Polish Academy of Sciences,Jastrzębiec n/Warsaw,Magdalenka 05-552,Poland.
authors: Bożenna
authors: B
authors: Olszańska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003370:Coturnix / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005260:Female; D005775:Gastrula / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000235:genetics*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011985:Receptors, Serotonin
keywords: Sperm