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

In a search for novel genes involved in the hypothalamic control of body energy homeostasis bioinformatic tools were applied. Analysis of the presence of structural features characteristic for secretory peptides was used as a first step in the identification of novel neuropeptides, and was followed by analysis of expression patterns. The gene product previously named TAFA5 was identified during this process. The overall mRNA expression pattern of TAFA5 was assessed using quantitative PCR on rat cDNA libraries. Furthermore, the brain mRNA and polypeptide expression patterns were examined in rats using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Our results substantiate previous findings that TAFA5 is mainly expressed in the central nervous system. Furthermore, we found TAFA5 mRNA to be highly expressed in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) where it co-localized with vasopressin and oxytocin in magno- and parvocellular neurons. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed TAFA5 immunoreactivity in the PVN in accordance with the in situ hybridization data. Given the high levels of expression in the PVN, it was investigated whether TAFA5 mRNA levels were affected by fasting or dehydration. Interestingly, it was observed that TAFA5 mRNA was specifically down-regulated in the PVN following water deprivation. Based on our findings we suggest that TAFA5 may be involved in the regulation of fluid homeostasis.
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PMID:The putative neuropeptide TAFA5 is expressed in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and is regulated by dehydration. 1827 39

The intention of this review is to emphasize the current knowledge about the extent and importance of the substances co-localized with magnocellular arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OXY) as potential candidates for the gradual clarification of their actual role in the regulation of hydromineral homeostasis. Maintenance of the body hydromineral balance depends on the coordinated action of principal biologically active compounds, AVP and OXY, synthesized in the hypothalamic supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. However, on the regulation of water-salt balance, other substances, co-localized with the principal neuropetides, participate. These can be classified as (1) peptides co-localized with AVP or OXY with unambiguous osmotic function, including angiotensin II, apelin, corticotropin releasing hormone, and galanin and (2) peptides co-localized with AVP or OXY with an unknown role in osmotic regulation, including cholecystokinin, chromogranin/secretogranin, dynorphin, endothelin-1, enkephalin, ferritin protein, interleukin 6, kininogen, neurokinin B, neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal peptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, TAFA5 protein, thyrotropin releasing hormone, tyrosine hydroxylase, and urocortin. In this brief review, also the responses of these substances to different hyperosmotic and hypoosmotic challenges are pointed out. Based on the literature data published recently, the functional implication of the majority of co-localized substances is still better understood in non-osmotic than osmotic functional circuits. Brattleboro strain of rats that does not express functional vasopressin was also included in this review. These animals suffer from chronic hypernatremia and hyperosmolality, accompanied by sustained increase in OXY mRNA in PVN and SON and OXY levels in plasma. They represent an important model of animals with constantly sustained osmolality, which in the future, will be utilizable for revealing the physiological importance of biologically active substances co-expressed with AVP and OXY, involved in the regulation of plasma osmolality.
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PMID:Response of substances co-expressed in hypothalamic magnocellular neurons to osmotic challenges in normal and Brattleboro rats. 1877 90