Detailed neuronal distribution of GPR3 and its co-expression with EF-hand calcium-binding proteins in the mouse central nervous system.

Detailed neuronal distribution of GPR3 and its co-expression with EF-hand calcium-binding proteins in the mouse central nervous system. Brain Res. 2020 Oct 16;:147166 Authors: Ikawa F, Tanaka S, Harada K, Hide I, Maruyama H, Sakai N Abstract The G-protein coupled receptor 3 (GPR3), a member of the class A rhodopsin-type GPR family, constitutively activates Gαs proteins without any ligands. Although there have been several reports concerning the functions of GPR3 in neurons, the physiological roles of GPR3 have not been fully elucidated. To address this issue, we analyzed GPR3 distribution in detail using fluorescence-based X-gal staining in heterozygous GPR3 knockout/LacZ knock-in mice, and further investigated the types of GPR3-expressing neurons using fluorescent double labeling with various EF-hand Ca2+-binding proteins. In addition to the previously reported GPR3-expressing areas, we identified GPR3 expression in the basal ganglia and in many nuclei of the cranial nerves, in regions related to olfactory, auditory, emotional, and motor functions. In addition, GPR3 was not only observed in excitatory neurons in layer V of the cerebral cortex, the CA2 region of the hippocampus, and the lateral nucleus of the thalamus, but also in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic interneurons in the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, striatum, and cerebellum. GPR3 was frequently co-expressed with neuronal Ca2+-binding protein 2 (NECAB2) in neurons in v...
Source: Brain Research - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Brain Res Source Type: research