PUBLICATION

Expression and function of alpha-adrenoceptors in zebrafish: drug effects, mRNA and receptor distributions

Authors
Ruuskanen, J.O., Peitsaro, N., Kaslin, J.V., Panula, P., and Scheinin, M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-050711-8
Date
2005
Source
Journal of neurochemistry   94(6): 1559-1569 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Panula, Pertti, Peitsaro, Nina, Ruuskanen, Jori
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Adrenergic alpha-Agonists/pharmacology
  • Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists/pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Binding, Competitive/physiology
  • Brain/anatomy & histology
  • Brain/metabolism*
  • Catecholamines/metabolism*
  • Female
  • Isoquinolines/metabolism
  • Male
  • Mammals/anatomy & histology
  • Mammals/metabolism
  • Motor Activity/drug effects
  • Motor Activity/physiology
  • Naphthyridines/metabolism
  • Pigmentation/drug effects
  • Pigmentation/physiology
  • RNA, Messenger/drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger/metabolism*
  • Radioligand Assay
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/drug effects
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/genetics
  • Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/metabolism*
  • Viscera/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/anatomy & histology
  • Zebrafish/metabolism*
PubMed
16000146 Full text @ J. Neurochem.
Abstract
Abstract The alpha(2)-adrenoceptors are G-protein-coupled receptors that mediate many of the physiological effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Mammals have three subtypes of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, alpha(2A), alpha(2B) and alpha(2C). Zebrafish, a teleost fish used widely as a model organism, has five distinct alpha(2)-adrenoceptor genes. The zebrafish has emerged as a powerful tool to study development and genetics, with many mutations causing diseases reminiscent of human diseases. Three of the zebrafish adra2 genes code for orthologues of the mammalian alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, while two genes code for alpha(2Da)- and alpha(2Db)- adrenoceptors, representing a duplicated, fourth alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtype. The three different mammalian alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtypes have distinct expression patterns in different organs and tissues, and mediate different physiological functions. The zebrafish alpha(2)-adrenergic system, with five different alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, appears more complicated. In order to deduce the physiological functions of the zebrafish alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, we localized the expression of the five different alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtypes using RT-PCR, mRNA in situ hybridization, and receptor autoradiography using the radiolabelled alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist [ethyl-(3)H]RS-79948-197. Localization of the alpha(2A)-, alpha(2B)- and alpha(2C)-adrenoceptors in zebrafish shows marked conservation when compared with mammals. The zebrafish alpha(2A), alpha(2Da), and alpha(2Db) each partially follow the distribution pattern of the mammalian alpha(2A): a possible indication of subfunction partitioning between these subtypes. The alpha(2)-adrenergic system is functional in zebrafish also in vivo, as demonstrated by marked locomotor inhibition, similarly to mammals, and lightening of skin colour induced by the specific alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist, dexmedetomidine. Both effects were antagonized by the specific alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist atipamezole.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping