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The hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal system: from genome to physiology.
- Source :
-
Journal of neuroendocrinology [J Neuroendocrinol] 2012 Apr; Vol. 24 (4), pp. 539-53. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- The elucidation of the genomes of a large number of mammalian species has produced a huge amount of data on which to base physiological studies. These endeavours have also produced surprises, not least of which has been the revelation that the number of protein coding genes needed to make a mammal is only 22 333 (give or take). However, this small number belies an unanticipated complexity that has only recently been revealed as a result of genomic studies. This complexity is evident at a number of levels: (i) cis-regulatory sequences; (ii) noncoding and antisense mRNAs, most of which have no known function; (iii) alternative splicing that results in the generation of multiple, subtly different mature mRNAs from the precursor transcript encoded by a single gene; and (iv) post-translational processing and modification. In this review, we examine the steps being taken to decipher genome complexity in the context of gene expression, regulation and function in the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal system (HNS). Five unique stories explain: (i) the use of transcriptomics to identify genes involved in the response to physiological (dehydration) and pathological (hypertension) cues; (ii) the use of mass spectrometry for single-cell level identification of biological active peptides in the HNS, and to measure in vitro release; (iii) the use of transgenic lines that express fusion transgenes enabling (by cross-breeding) the generation of double transgenic lines that can be used to study vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXT) neurones in the HNS, as well as their neuroanatomy, electrophysiology and activation upon exposure to any given stimulus; (iv) the use of viral vectors to demonstrate that somato-dendritically released AVP plays an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis by binding to V1a receptors on local somata and dendrites; and (v) the use of virally-mediated optogenetics to dissect the role of OXT and AVP in the modulation of a wide variety of behaviours.<br /> (© 2011 The Authors. Journal of Neuroendocrinology © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified physiology
Arginine Vasopressin physiology
Baroreflex genetics
Baroreflex physiology
Gene Expression Profiling methods
Genome
Humans
Hypertension genetics
Hypertension physiopathology
Oxytocin physiology
Gene Expression Regulation genetics
Gene Expression Regulation physiology
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System physiology
Neuropeptides genetics
Neuropeptides physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1365-2826
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of neuroendocrinology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22448850
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02241.x