PUBLICATION
Expression and function of alpha-adrenoceptors in zebrafish: drug effects, mRNA and receptor distributions
- Authors
- Ruuskanen, J.O., Peitsaro, N., Kaslin, J.V., Panula, P., and Scheinin, M.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-050711-8
- Date
- 2005
- Source
- Journal of neurochemistry 94(6): 1559-1569 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Panula, Pertti, Peitsaro, Nina, Ruuskanen, Jori
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists/pharmacology
- Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists/pharmacology
- Animals
- Binding, Competitive/physiology
- Brain/anatomy & histology
- Brain/metabolism*
- Catecholamines/metabolism*
- Female
- Isoquinolines/metabolism
- Male
- Mammals/anatomy & histology
- Mammals/metabolism
- Motor Activity/drug effects
- Motor Activity/physiology
- Naphthyridines/metabolism
- Pigmentation/drug effects
- Pigmentation/physiology
- RNA, Messenger/drug effects
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism*
- Radioligand Assay
- Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/drug effects
- Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/genetics
- Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/metabolism*
- Viscera/metabolism
- Zebrafish/anatomy & histology
- Zebrafish/metabolism*
- PubMed
- 16000146 Full text @ J. Neurochem.
Citation
Ruuskanen, J.O., Peitsaro, N., Kaslin, J.V., Panula, P., and Scheinin, M. (2005) Expression and function of alpha-adrenoceptors in zebrafish: drug effects, mRNA and receptor distributions. Journal of neurochemistry. 94(6):1559-1569.
Abstract
Abstract The alpha(2)-adrenoceptors are G-protein-coupled receptors that mediate many of the physiological effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Mammals have three subtypes of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, alpha(2A), alpha(2B) and alpha(2C). Zebrafish, a teleost fish used widely as a model organism, has five distinct alpha(2)-adrenoceptor genes. The zebrafish has emerged as a powerful tool to study development and genetics, with many mutations causing diseases reminiscent of human diseases. Three of the zebrafish adra2 genes code for orthologues of the mammalian alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, while two genes code for alpha(2Da)- and alpha(2Db)- adrenoceptors, representing a duplicated, fourth alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtype. The three different mammalian alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtypes have distinct expression patterns in different organs and tissues, and mediate different physiological functions. The zebrafish alpha(2)-adrenergic system, with five different alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, appears more complicated. In order to deduce the physiological functions of the zebrafish alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, we localized the expression of the five different alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtypes using RT-PCR, mRNA in situ hybridization, and receptor autoradiography using the radiolabelled alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist [ethyl-(3)H]RS-79948-197. Localization of the alpha(2A)-, alpha(2B)- and alpha(2C)-adrenoceptors in zebrafish shows marked conservation when compared with mammals. The zebrafish alpha(2A), alpha(2Da), and alpha(2Db) each partially follow the distribution pattern of the mammalian alpha(2A): a possible indication of subfunction partitioning between these subtypes. The alpha(2)-adrenergic system is functional in zebrafish also in vivo, as demonstrated by marked locomotor inhibition, similarly to mammals, and lightening of skin colour induced by the specific alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, dexmedetomidine. Both effects were antagonized by the specific alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist atipamezole.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping