Endogenous CNS Expression of Neurotensin and Neurotensin Receptors Is Altered during the Postpartum Period in Outbred Mice
Endogenous CNS Expression of Neurotensin and Neurotensin Receptors Is Altered during the Postpartum Period in Outbred Mice
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DOI：
10.1371/journal.pone.0083098
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发表时间：
2014-01-08
期刊：
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Gammie, Stephen C.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Driessen, Terri M.;Zhao, Changjiu;Gammie, Stephen C.
神经降压素(NT)是一种在小鼠和人类中相同的神经肽，在许多与母性行为相关的中枢神经系统区域产生和释放。NT与产妇护理有关，以前的研究间接表明，内源性NT信号在产后会发生变化。在本研究中，我们使用实时定量聚合酶链式反应(QPCR)跨多个脑区，直接检测NT及其受体在母系小鼠中是否表现出相对于处女异种鼠的基因表达变化。我们还使用抗NT抗体和免疫组织化学方法检测特定脑区的NT蛋白水平。在对母体行为起关键作用的内侧视前区(MPOA)，产后小鼠NT及其受体3(Sort1)的mRNA表达显著上调。产后女性终纹背侧床核中NT基因的表达也明显升高。然而，在产后女性的外侧隔，NT基因表达下调。在下丘脑室旁核(PVN)，Ntsr1的表达在产后女性下调。神经降压素受体2(Ntsr2)的表达在所测试的任何脑区中都没有改变。在蛋白表达方面，NT免疫组织化学结果显示，在产后脑内MPOA、下丘脑外侧区和PVN的两个亚区，NT的标记水平升高。总之，这些发现表明NT及其受体在大脑的多个区域发生内源性变化，这些可能支持一些母性行为的出现。
Neurotensin (NT) is a neuropeptide identical in mice and humans that is produced and released in many CNS regions associated with maternal behavior. NT has been linked to aspects of maternal care and previous studies have indirectly suggested that endogenous NT signaling is altered in the postpartum period. In the present study, we directly examine whether NT and its receptors exhibit altered gene expression in maternal relative to virgin outbred mice using real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) across multiple brain regions. We also examine NT protein levels using anti-NT antibodies and immunohistochemistry in specific brain regions. In the medial preoptic area (MPOA), which is critical for maternal behaviors, mRNA of NT and NT receptor 3 (Sort1) were significantly up-regulated in postpartum mice compared to virgins. NT mRNA was also elevated in postpartum females in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis dorsal. However, in the lateral septum, NT mRNA was down-regulated in postpartum females. In the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), Ntsr1 expression was down-regulated in postpartum females. Neurotensin receptor 2 (Ntsr2) expression was not altered in any brain region tested. In terms of protein expression, NT immunohistochemistry results indicated that NT labeling was elevated in the postpartum brain in the MPOA, lateral hypothalamus, and two subregions of PVN. Together, these findings indicate that endogenous changes occur in NT and its receptors across multiple brain regions, and these likely support the emergence of some maternal behaviors.