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Suckling stimulus suppresses messenger RNA for tyrosine hydroxylase in arcuate neurons during lactation
Author(s) -
Berghorn Kathie A.,
Le WeiWei,
Sherman Thomas G.,
Hoffman Gloria E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.1325
Subject(s) - tyrosine hydroxylase , cytoplasm , messenger rna , endocrinology , lactation , medicine , rna , biology , stimulus (psychology) , nucleus , dopamine , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , gene , pregnancy , genetics , psychology , psychotherapist
Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA in tuberoinfundibular dopamine (TIDA) neurons is suppressed during lactation but rebounds upon pup removal. A time course of TH mRNA changes after pup removal revealed three phases: (1) a nuclear phase (evident 1.5 hours after pup removal, maximal at 3 hours) with TH mRNA appearing in 1 or 2 nuclear loci with little or no change in cytoplasmic mRNA; (2) a cytoplasmic phase (noted 6 hours after pup removal, peaked 12–24 hours) with a significant increase in total TH mRNA levels mainly in the cytoplasm; and (3) a stabilization phase (24–48 hours after pup removal) when nuclear signals were low and cytoplasmic RNA showed a slight decline with extension of RNA clusters into the cell dendrites. In rats whose pups could suckle only on one side, TH was up‐regulated only on the side contralateral to nipple blockade. These data indicate that after suckling terminates, TH up‐regulation is evident at 1.5 hours, but 6 hours is needed before the cells transport sufficient mRNA into the cytoplasm. The rapid signaling of TH up‐regulation stems from the fact that the TIDA neurons respond to neural signals from termination of suckling. J. Comp. Neurol. 438:423–432, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.