Urocortin mRNA is expressed in the enteric nervous system of the rat

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 267; no. 2; pp. 125 - 128
• Main Authors: Harada, Shoko, Imaki, Toshihiro, Naruse, Mitsuhide, Chikada, Naoko, Nakajima, Kishiko, Demura, Hiroshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 28.05.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - metabolism; Colon - innervation; Colon - metabolism; Corticotropin-releasing factor; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - biosynthesis; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - genetics; DNA, Complementary - isolation & purification; Duodenum - innervation; Duodenum - metabolism; enteric nervous system; Enteric Nervous System - metabolism; Enteric neuron; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastric Mucosa - metabolism; Gastrointestinal tract; General aspects; In Situ Hybridization; Male; Neuropeptides - biosynthesis; Neuropeptides - genetics; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Stomach - innervation; Urocortin; Urocortins; Vertebrates: digestive system; Urocortin; Corticotropin-releasing factor; Gastrointestinal tract; Enteric neuron; In situ hybridization; Rat; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Corticotropin releasing factor; Hypothalamus; Gene expression; Gastrointestinal; Hypothalamic hormone; Vertebrata; Enteric nervous system; Mammalia; Myenteric plexus; Hormone releasing factor; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3940(99)00349-3

The expression of the urocortin gene in the gastrointestinal tract was investigated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization histochemistry. PCR demonstrated the presence of urocortin mRNA in the rat brain, duodenum, small intestine, and colon. By in situ hybridization, urocortin-containing cells were exclusively localized to the submucosal plexus and myenteric plexus in the duodenum, small intestine and colon. These results suggest that urocortin may play an important role in the regulation of gastrointestinal motor function throughout the enteric nervous system.