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Differential In Vivo Regulation of mRNA Encoding the Norepinephrine Transporter and Tyrosine Hydroxylase in Rat Adrenal Medulla and Locus Ceruleus
Author(s) -
Cubells Joseph F.,
Kim Kwang Soo,
Baker Harriet,
Volpe Bruce T.,
Chung Youngin,
Houpt Thomas A.,
Wessel Thomas C.,
Joh Tong H.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1995.65020502.x
Subject(s) - locus ceruleus , adrenal medulla , locus coeruleus , reserpine , catecholamine , tyrosine hydroxylase , endocrinology , medicine , phenylethanolamine , tyrosine 3 monooxygenase , norepinephrine , biology , norepinephrine transporter , in situ hybridization , chemistry , dopamine , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , substantia nigra , biochemistry , gene , central nervous system , dopaminergic
To investigate the regulation of norepinephrine transporter mRNA in vivo, we analyzed the effects of reserpine on its expression in the rat adrenal medulla and locus ceruleus. First, PCR was used to clone a 0.5‐kb rat cDNA fragment that exhibits 87% nucleotide identity to the corresponding human norepinephrine transporter cDNA sequence. In situ, the cDNA hybridizes specifically within norepinephrine‐secreting cells, but in neither dopamine nor serotonin neurons, suggesting strongly it is a partial rat norepinephrine transporter cDNA. Reserpine, 10 mg/kg administered 24 h premortem, decreased steady‐state levels of norepinephrine transporter mRNA in the adrenal medulla by ∼65% and in the locus ceruleus by ∼25%, as determined by quantitative in situ hybridization. Northern analysis confirmed the results of the in situ hybridization analysis in the adrenal medulla but did not detect the smaller changes observed in the locus ceruleus. Both analyses showed that reserpine increased tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the adrenal medulla and locus ceruleus. These results suggest that noradrenergic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells can coordinate opposing changes in systems mediating catecholamine uptake and synthesis, to compensate for catecholamine depletion.