Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) expressing magnocellular neurons in the hypothalamic-neurohypophysial system (HNS) have been the most studied of all the neuroendocrine cell-types. Despite this, our understanding of the mechanisms that underly the cell-specific expression of the peptide genes in these neurons has remained obscure. Part of the reason for this may be related to the close apposition of the OT and VP genes in the chromosomal locus, the genes being separated by as little as 3.5 kb in the mouse, and their interactions which are critical for cell-specific expression of the genes. Recent studies using intact rat OT and VP constructs in transgenic mice, and rat and mouse VP genes with CAT inserts in exon III as reporters in transgenic rats and mice, respectively, have suggested the presence of cell-specific enhancer elements in the 3' downstream (intergenic region, IGR) region of the VP gene. Evidence in favor of this view is presented from transgenic mouse studies on the expression of mouse OT- and VP-CAT gene constructs. Oxytocin and vasopressin phenotypes in the magnocellular neuronal population have traditionally been assessed by either immunocytochemical or in situ hybridization histochemical methods leading to the view that these genes are never coexpressed. However, more sensitive methods show that most OT cells also express some VP mRNA, and most VP cells contain some OT mRNA. A third phenotype containing equivalent levels of both OT and VP mRNA can also be found under some conditions, thereby complicating our analysis of cell-specificity. A continuing problem hindering studies of the regulation of OT and VP gene expression in neurons, is the absence of an appropriate cell line to examine these issues. We have found that stationary slice-explant cultures allow for excellent preservation of highly differentiated magnocellular neurons in long-term culture, and that these cultures can be used for physiological and pharmacological studies and analysis of gene expression.
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PMID:Cell-specific gene expression in oxytocin and vasopressin magnocellular neurons. 1002 82

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on the functions of ovary and uterus in rat. Virgin female rats of Charles Foster strain (120 gms approximately) were administrated MSG by oral gavage at a dose level of 0.8, 1.6, 2.4 gm/kgBW/day, respectively for 30 and 40 days duration. We observed a significant decrease in the duration of proestrus, estrus and metestrus phases, and increase in the duration of diestrus phase and diestrus index compared to control. We found significant increase in the levels of serum LH, FSH and estradiol in test groups of rat. We also observed significant increase in the number of primary and primordial follicles, increase in the size of graafian follicle, and decrease in the size of corpus luteum. Further, we have seen significant increase in the activities SOD, CAT and GST, decrease in the activities GR and GPx, and decrease MDA level in MSG exposed groups. These results suggest that MSG impairs the functions of the ovary probably by augmenting the release of FSH, LH and estradiol; promoting the follicular maturation and improving the biochemical mechanism for antioxidant defense. We also observed significant potentiation of the force of contraction of uterus in estrus, metestrus and diestrus phases. This result suggests that MSG potentiates the contraction of uterus probably by stimulating the estradiol sensitivity to oxytocin. From the results it is concluded that MSG suppresses the female reproductive function in rat probably by impairing the functions of ovary and uterus.
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PMID:Monosodium glutamate suppresses the female reproductive function by impairing the functions of ovary and uterus in rat. 2911 27