Get started
Work

Transgenic Expression of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein Enables Direct Visualization for Physiological Studies of Vasopressin Neurons and Isolated Nerve Terminals of the Rat

Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: We have generated transgenic rats expressing an arginine vasopressin (AVP)-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) fusion gene. The expression of the eGFP gene and strong fluorescence were observed in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), and the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in transgenic rats. The hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal tract, isolated SON neurons, and isolated axon terminals in the neurohypophysis also showed robust eGFP fluorescence. Water deprivation for 2 d increased the fluorescence of the eGFP in the SON and the PVN but not the SCN. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was then used to record the electrical activities specifically identifying eGFP-expressing SON, PVN, and SCN AVP neurons in in vitro brain slice preparations. The AVP-eGFP transgenic rats are a unique new tool with which to study the physiological role of AVP-secreting neurons in the central nervous system and the dynamics of the regulation of AVP secretion in the living neurons and their axon terminals.
DOI: 10.1210/en.2004-0830
Authors: Yoichi Ueta, Hiroaki Fujihara, Ryota Serino, Govindan Dayanithi, Hitoshi Ozawa, Ken-ichi Matsuda, Mitsuhiro Kawata, Junko Yamada, Shinya Ueno, Atsuo Fukuda, David Murphy
Institutions: University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Inserm, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, Hôpital Saint Eloi, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, University of Bristol
Language: English
Field: Psychology
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2012248446
FWCI: 4.059
Cites: 56
Cited by: 160
Related to: 10