The intact sciatic nerve contains levels of growth factor (NGF) that are comparable to those densely innervated peripheral target tissues NGF-responsive (sympathetic and sensory) neurons. There, the high NGF reflected by correspondingly mRNANGF levels. In nerve, were very low, thus indicating contribution locally synthesized nonneuronal cells is small. However, after transection an increase up 15-fold in was measured 4-mm segments collected both proximally distally site. Distally site,...

The neurotrophic factor concept in its basic form envisages that innervated tissues produce a signal for the innervating neurons selective limitation of neuronal death occurring during development (Purves, 1986; Oppenheim, 1991). This arose several decades ago on basis observation experimental manipulation amount target tissue could modulate size populations. By making survival dependent their target, nature would provide means to match neuron and cell NGF, discovered 1950s, represents first...

A two-site enzyme immunoassay is described which does not suffer from artifacts inherent in previous assays and has the necessary high sensitivity to determine endogenous levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) sympathetic nervous system its target organs. Monoclonal affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies against mouse NGF (mNGF) were covalently linked glass beads as first site coupled beta-galactosidase second site. Detection fluorescent reaction product permitted determination 0.01-0.02 fmol...

A protein secreted by cultured rat heart cells can direct the choice of neurotransmitter phenotype made sympathetic neurons. Structural analysis and biological assays demonstrated that this is identical to a regulates growth differentiation embryonic stem myeloid cells, stimulates bone remodeling acute-phase synthesis in hepatocytes. This has been termed D factor, DIA, DIF, DRF, HSFIII, LIF. Thus, cytokine, like IL-6 TGFβ, embryo adult many tissues, now including nervous system.

Odor information is first represented in the brain by patterns of input activity across glomeruli olfactory bulb (OB). To examine how odorants are at this stage processing, we labeled anterogradely axons receptor neurons with voltage-sensitive dye Di8-ANEPPQ zebrafish. The induced diverse natural afferent and array was then recorded optically. results show that certain subregions OB preferentially activated defined chemical odorant classes. Within these subregions, "ordinary" (amino acids,...

Significance Cadaverine and putrescine, two diamines emanating from decaying flesh, are strongly repulsive odors to humans but serve as innate attractive or social cues in other species. Here we show that zebrafish, a vertebrate model system, exhibit powerful avoidance behavior both diamines, identify high-affinity olfactory receptor for cadaverine.

Trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) in mammals recently have been shown to function as olfactory receptors. We delineated the taar gene family jawless, cartilaginous, and bony fish (zero, 2, >100 genes, respectively). conclude that genes are evolutionary much younger than related OR ORA/V1R receptor families, which present already lamprey, a jawless vertebrate. The 2 cartilaginous appear be ancestral for classes, each with mammalian (teleost) representatives. Unexpectedly, whole new...

Glomeruli are anatomical and possibly functional modules in the vertebrate olfactory bulb. We investigated spatial arrangement of glomeruli bulbs adult zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio). A solution lipophilic tracer Dil was injected into nasal cavities. Axons sensory neurons projecting from epithelium bulb were traced anterogradely, thus labeling whole population glomeruli. The glomerular distribution analyzed detail by confocal laser-scanning microscopy. find that a typical contains small...

The mapping of high-dimensional olfactory stimuli onto the two-dimensional surface nasal sensory epithelium constitutes first step in neuronal encoding input. We have used zebrafish as a model system to analyze spatial distribution odorant receptor molecules by quantitative situ hybridization. To this end, we cloned 10 very divergent PCR. Individual genes are expressed sparse neurons. Analysis position labeled cells simplified coordinate revealed three concentric, albeit overlapping,...

While for two of three mammalian olfactory receptor families (OR and V2R) ortholog teleost have been identified, the third family (V1R) has thought to be represented by a single, closely linked gene pair. We identified four further V1R-like genes in every species analyzed ( Danio rerio , Gasterosteus aculeatus Oryzias latipes Tetraodon nigroviridis Takifugu rubripes ). In phylogenetic analysis these ora (olfactory class A-related) form single clade, which includes entire V1R superfamily....

A two-site enzyme immunoassay was used to determine the nerve growth factor (NGF) contents of sympathetic ganglia and their corresponding target tissues in adult rats. The destruction terminals by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) blockade axonal transport colchicine resulted a rapid increase NGF levels sympathetically innervated organs decrease ganglia. heart atrium, ventricle, submandibular gland, iris increased 2- 4-fold 12 hr after injection 6-OHDA, whereas stellate superior cervical dropped...

Bitter taste perception in vertebrates relies on a variable number of bitter receptor (Tas2r) genes, ranging from only three functional genes chicken to as many approximately 50 frogs. Humans possess medium-sized Tas2r repertoire encoding broadly and several narrowly tuned receptors plus with intermediate tuning properties. Such information is not available for other vertebrate species. In particular it known, whether small may be compensated by broad these receptors, the side, large might...

Perception of olfactory stimuli is mediated by distinct populations sensory neurons, each with a characteristic set morphological as well functional parameters. Beyond two large ciliated and microvillous third population, crypt has been identified in teleost cartilaginous fishes. We report here novel, fourth neuron population zebrafish, which we named kappe neurons for their shape. Kappe are Go-like immunoreactivity show spatial distribution within the epithelium, similar to, but...

Both ciliated and microvillous olfactory sensory neuron populations express large families of receptor genes. However, individual neurons generally only a single gene according to the "one neuron–one receptor" rule. We report here that crypt neurons, third type in fish species, use an even more restricted mode expression. recently identified novel family 6 highly conserved G protein–coupled receptors, v1r-like ora show now member this family, ora4 is expressed nearly all whereas other 5...

Abstract Studies of the two major olfactory organs rodents, mucosa (OM) and vomeronasal organ (VNO), unraveled molecular basis smell in vertebrates. However, some vertebrates lack a VNO. Here we generated analyzed transcriptome zebrafish compared it to transcriptomes mouse investigate evolutionary relationship between single dual systems. Our analyses revealed high degree conservation, with orthologs cell-specific markers all but one their chemosensory receptor classes expressed organ....