GDNF and GFRα co-receptor family in the developing feline gut.
Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and the GFRα co-receptors play a role in the developing enteric nervous system. The co-receptors elicit their action by binding receptor tyrosine kinase RET. This immunohistochemical study reports the presence of GDNF and its specific co-receptor GFRα1 in the cat gastrointestinal apparatus during development, from stage 9 to 22. At stage 9 and 11, immunoreactivity (IR) to GDNF was observed in the cells of mesenchyme of the anterior gut. From stage 14 to 22, GDNF IR was detected in nervous plexuses; moreover, GDNF and GFRα1 IR appeared localized in gastrointestinal endocrine cells. The presence of GDNF in the enteric nervous system and in the endocrine cells suggests an involvement of this neurotrophic factor in the gastrointestinal development. Moreover, the presence of the co-receptor GFRα1 in endocrine cells and its absence in the enteric nervous system seems to indicate a different mode of transduction of GDNF signal. GFRα2 and GFRα3 co-receptors were not detected.
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: lucianna.maruccio@unina.it.
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Maruccio
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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D'Angelo
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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de Girolamo
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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Lucini
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples, Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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Castaldo
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051097:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
Endocrine cells; Enteric nervous system; Intestine; Neurotrophic factor; Stomach