Developmental expression of oxytocin receptors in the neonatal medulla oblongata and pons

► The distribution of oxytocin receptors (OTRs) in the postnatal brain stem of rats was examined by immunohistochemistry. ► OTR-immunoreactive structures were distributed densely in the sensory nuclei and others except motor nuclei by postnatal day 10. ► OTR-immunoreactive structures were observed i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience letters 2011-09, Vol.502 (3), p.157-161
Main Authors: Murata, Yuzo, Li, Ming-Zi, Masuko, Sadahiko
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - physiology
Medulla Oblongata - growth & development
Medulla Oblongata - metabolism
Neuronal development
Oxytocin - physiology
Oxytocin receptor
Pons - growth & development
Pons - metabolism
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Oxytocin - biosynthesis
Receptors, Oxytocin - genetics
Transient expression
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:► The distribution of oxytocin receptors (OTRs) in the postnatal brain stem of rats was examined by immunohistochemistry. ► OTR-immunoreactive structures were distributed densely in the sensory nuclei and others except motor nuclei by postnatal day 10. ► OTR-immunoreactive structures were observed in the neuronal Golgi apparatus by using electron microscopy. ► The present study suggests that transient type of OTR may function for neuronal development in the neonatal period. The distribution of oxytocin receptors (OTRs) in the postnatal brain stem of rats was examined by immunohistochemistry. Fibrous or rounded shaped OTR-immunoreactive structures were distributed densely in sensory nuclei, such as the gracile nucleus, the solitary nucleus, and the spinal trigeminal nucleus, evenly in the reticular formation of the medulla oblongata and pons, and moderately in the locus coeruleus during the neonatal period, but disappeared by postnatal day 10. Few OTR-immunoreactive structures were distributed in motor nuclei. Many rounded OTR-immunoreactive structures were discovered layered and partially overlapping with GM-130-immunoreacivity in the neuronal Golgi apparatus, which was confirmed by electron microscopy. The present study suggests that a transient type of OTR may be functioning in neuronal development during the neonatal period.
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/j.neulet.2011.07.032