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Transient expression of a functional serotonin transporter in Merkel cells during late gestation and early postnatal rat development

Hansson, Stefan R. LU orcid and Hoffman, Beth J. (2000) In Experimental Brain Research 130(3). p.401-409
Abstract

We and others have previously identified serotonin transporter mRNA throughout the trigeminal system in the whisker region, trigeminal ganglion, trigeminal nucleus and thalamic relay stations. In order to further implicate a role for the serotonin transporter in this sensory system, we have now characterized serotonin transporter gene expression and function in primary cultures from the rat snout, at several stages of gestation. In this study, we have demonstrated a transient expression of serotonin transporter mRNA in quinacrine-positive Merkel cells between embryonic day 16 and postnatal day 5. Peak levels of mRNA occurred at embryonic day 20 and postnatal day 1. Merkel cells in culture exhibited a transient, antidepressant-sensitive... (More)

We and others have previously identified serotonin transporter mRNA throughout the trigeminal system in the whisker region, trigeminal ganglion, trigeminal nucleus and thalamic relay stations. In order to further implicate a role for the serotonin transporter in this sensory system, we have now characterized serotonin transporter gene expression and function in primary cultures from the rat snout, at several stages of gestation. In this study, we have demonstrated a transient expression of serotonin transporter mRNA in quinacrine-positive Merkel cells between embryonic day 16 and postnatal day 5. Peak levels of mRNA occurred at embryonic day 20 and postnatal day 1. Merkel cells in culture exhibited a transient, antidepressant-sensitive [3H]-serotonin uptake, which was maximal at a time in culture corresponding to embryonic day 22 (day of birth). This transient uptake of serotonin suggests a role for this monoamine during a critical time period of the developing trigeminal sensory system. Regulation of extracellular serotonin levels by transporter activity may reflect the specific formation of the merkel cell-sensory neuron complex in an analogous mechanism by which serotonin modulates synaptogenesis in the central nervous system.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Fluoxetine, Primary cell culture, Quinacrine, Trigeminal sensory system, Whiskers
in
Experimental Brain Research
volume
130
issue
3
pages
9 pages
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:10706438
  • scopus:0033967585
ISSN
0014-4819
DOI
10.1007/s002219900242
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
842b41f2-7452-4e7d-b175-fec71bb6bd70
date added to LUP
2021-02-12 10:55:10
date last changed
2024-01-03 06:34:47
@article{842b41f2-7452-4e7d-b175-fec71bb6bd70,
  abstract     = {{<p>We and others have previously identified serotonin transporter mRNA throughout the trigeminal system in the whisker region, trigeminal ganglion, trigeminal nucleus and thalamic relay stations. In order to further implicate a role for the serotonin transporter in this sensory system, we have now characterized serotonin transporter gene expression and function in primary cultures from the rat snout, at several stages of gestation. In this study, we have demonstrated a transient expression of serotonin transporter mRNA in quinacrine-positive Merkel cells between embryonic day 16 and postnatal day 5. Peak levels of mRNA occurred at embryonic day 20 and postnatal day 1. Merkel cells in culture exhibited a transient, antidepressant-sensitive [<sup>3</sup>H]-serotonin uptake, which was maximal at a time in culture corresponding to embryonic day 22 (day of birth). This transient uptake of serotonin suggests a role for this monoamine during a critical time period of the developing trigeminal sensory system. Regulation of extracellular serotonin levels by transporter activity may reflect the specific formation of the merkel cell-sensory neuron complex in an analogous mechanism by which serotonin modulates synaptogenesis in the central nervous system.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hansson, Stefan R. and Hoffman, Beth J.}},
  issn         = {{0014-4819}},
  keywords     = {{Fluoxetine; Primary cell culture; Quinacrine; Trigeminal sensory system; Whiskers}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{401--409}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Experimental Brain Research}},
  title        = {{Transient expression of a functional serotonin transporter in Merkel cells during late gestation and early postnatal rat development}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002219900242}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s002219900242}},
  volume       = {{130}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}