PUBLICATION

Localization and characterization of val-opsin isoform-expressing cells in the brain of adult zebrafish

Authors
Hang, C.Y., Kitahashi, T., Parhar, I.S.
ID
ZDB-PUB-140722-14
Date
2014
Source
The Journal of comparative neurology   522(17): 3847-60 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Deep-brain, Merck Cat# AB3080 RRID:AB_11211640, RRID:ZFIN_ZDB-GENO-090918-6, neurotransmitters, non-visual
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Brain/cytology*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
  • Male
  • Opsins/genetics
  • Opsins/metabolism*
  • Protein Isoforms/genetics
  • Protein Isoforms/metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger/metabolism
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism*
  • Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone
  • Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Transcription Factors/metabolism
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase/genetics
  • Tryptophan Hydroxylase/metabolism
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
PubMed
25043553 Full text @ J. Comp. Neurol.
Abstract
In addition to vision, light information is used to regulate a range of animal physiology. Such non-image forming functions of light are mediated by non-visual photoreceptors expressed in distinct neurons in the retina and the brain in most vertebrates. A non-visual photoreceptor vertebrate ancient long opsin (VAL-opsin) possesses two functional isoforms in the zebrafish, encoded by valopa and valopb, which has received little attention. In order to delineate the neurochemical identities of valop cells and to test for co-localization of the valop isoforms, we used in situ hybridization to characterize the expression of the valop genes along with that of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides known to be present at the sites of valop expression. Double labeling showed that the thalamic valop population co-expresses valopa and valopb. All the thalamic valop cells overlapped with a GABAergic cell mass that continued from the anterior nucleus to the intercalated thalamic nucleus. A novel valopa cell population found in the superior raphe was serotonergic in nature. A valopb cell population in the Edinger-Westphal nucleus was identified to contain thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Valopb cells localized in the hindbrain intermediate reticular formation were non-cholinergic in nature (non-motorneurons). Thus, the presence of valop cell populations in different brain regions with co-expression of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides and, the co-localization of valop isoforms in the thalamic cell population indicate regulatory and functional complexity of VAL-opsin in the brain of the zebrafish.
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