title: Neuroanatomical distribution of galectin-3 in the adult rat brain.
abstract: Galectin-3 is a member of the lectin subfamily that enables the specific binding of β-galactosides. It is expressed in a broad spectrum of species and organs, and is known to have various functions related to cell adhesion, signal transduction, and proinflammatory responses. Although, expression of galectin-3 in some activated neuroglia under neuroinflammation has been well documented in the central nervous system, little is known about the neuronal expression and distribution of galectin-3 in normal brain. To describe the cellular and neuroanatomical expression map of galectin-3, we performed galectin-3 immunohistochemistry on the entire normal rat brain and subsequently analyzed the neuronal distribution. Galectin-3 expression was observed not only in some neuroglia but also in neurons. Neuronal expression of galectin-3 was observed in many functional parts of the cerebral cortex and various other subcortical nuclei in the hypothalamus and brainstem. Neuroanatomical analysis revealed that robust galectin-3 immuno-signals were present in many hypothalamic nuclei related to a variety of physiological functions responsible for mediating anxiety responses, energy balance, and neuroendocrine regulation. In addition, the regions highly connected with these hypothalamic nuclei also showed intense galectin-3 expression. Moreover, multiple key regions involved in regulating autonomic functions exhibited high levels of galectin-3 expression. In contrast, the subcortical nuclei responsible for the control of voluntary motor functions and limbic system exhibited no galectin-3 immunoreactivity. These observations suggest that galectin-3 expression in the rat brain seems to be regulated by developmental cascades, and that functionally and neuroanatomically related brain nuclei constitutively express galectin-3 in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, 301-832, 143-5, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Il
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, 301-832, 143-5, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eu-Gene
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, 301-832, 143-5, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Jin
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, 301-832, 143-5, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chi-Sun
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, 301-832, 143-5, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Ju
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, 301-832, 143-5, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, 301-832, 143-5, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ran-Sook
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, 301-832, 143-5, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tai-Kyoung
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Eulji University School of Medicine, 301-832, 143-5, Yongdu-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. dysong@eulji.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Dae-Yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000737:chemistry; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000032:analysis*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000737:chemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000737:chemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3
keywords: Galectin-3; Immunohistochemistry; Neurons; Rat brain