Mel-1a,Mel-1b褪黑素受体在大鼠海马分布的原位杂交研究

THE DISTRIBUTION OF Mel 1a, Mel 1b MELATONIN RECEPTOR IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS OF RATS: IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION STUDY

Mel-1a,Mel-1b为分别从人大脑和视网膜克隆的两种褪黑素膜受体。随着褪黑素的各种重要生理作用的不断发现 ,对其受体的研究也日益广泛和深入。本文采用原位杂交技术研究了 Mel-1a,Mel-1b两种褪黑素膜受体 m RNA在海马中的表达和分布 ,结果表明此两种受体 m RNA在成年大鼠海马各区神经元中均有表达。由于褪黑素是通过细胞膜上与 G蛋白耦联的 Mel-1a,Mel-1b受体而发挥作用的 ,而海马又是与老化密切相关的脑区 。

Mel 1a, Mel 1b are two subtypes of melatonin membrane receptors which were cloned from the human brain and retina, respectively.Recently, researchers paid more attention to the melatonin receptor since the new physiological functions of melatonin were continuously found. The distribution of Mel 1a, Mel 1b melatonin receptor mRNA in the hippocampus of rats was investigated with the method of in situ hybridzation in the present study. Our results demonstrated that Mel 1a, Mel 1b receptor mRNA was expressed in all neurons in the hippocampus of adult rats. In view that melatonin works by binding the G protein coupled melatonin receptors, and the hippocampus is related to aging, it suggests that melatonin could modulate aging of the hippocampus. (Figures 1～8 on plate 26)