Biomedical subjects

Robert C Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to Robert C Thompson.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Syrian hamster proopiomelanocortin cDNA cloning and early seasonal changes in testicular expression.

Beta-endorphin (beta-End) and its precursor, proopiomelanocortin (POMC), are expressed in testis and beta-End stimulates testosterone secretion locally. We measured POMC expression in Syrian hamster testis following transfer from long days (LDs) to short days (SDs). We used RT-PCR to amplify partial-length hamster POMC cDNA to generate a probe for Northern analysis. We also used rat beta-End antiserum for radioimmunoassay analysis. SD exposure for 2 weeks decreased POMC mRNA and beta-End, but not testis weight or testosterone. We conclude that POMC signaling may play a role in seasonal regulation of testicular function.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Dlf complexes with uniform coordination geometry: structural and magnetic properties of an LnNi2 core supported by a heptadentate amine phenol ligand.

The synthesis and physical characterization of a series of lanthanide (Ln(III)) and nickel (Ni(II)) mixed trimetallic complexes with the heptadentate (N(4)O(3)) amine phenol ligand H(3)trn [tris(2'-hydroxybenzylaminoethyl)amine] has been accomplished in order to extend our understanding of how amine phenol ligands can be used to coaggregate d- and f-block metal ions and to investigate further the magnetic interaction between these ions. The one-pot reaction in methanol of stoichiometric amounts of H(3)trn with NiX(2).6H(2)O (X = ClO(4), NO(3)) followed by addition of the corresponding LnX(3).6H(2)O salt, and then base, produces complexes of the general formula [LnNi(2)(trn)(2)]X.nH(2)O. The complexes were characterized by a variety of analytical techniques. Crystals of five of the complexes were grown from methanol solutions and their structures were determined by X-ray analysis: [PrNi(2)(trn)(2)(CH(3)OH)]ClO(4).4CH(3)OH.H(2)O, [SmNi(2)(trn)(2)(CH(3)OH)]NO(3).4CH(3)OH.2H(2)O, [TbNi(2)(trn)(2)(CH(3)OH)]NO(3).4CH(3)OH.3H(2)O, [ErNi(2)(trn)(2)(CH(3)OH)]NO(3).6CH(3)OH, and [LuNi(2)(trn)(2)(CH(3)OH)]NO(3).4.5CH(3)OH.1.5H(2)O. The [LnNi(2)(trn)(2)(CH(3)OH)](+) complex cation consists of two octahedral Ni(II) ions, each of which is encapsulated by the ligand trn(3)(-) in an N(4)O(2) coordination sphere with one phenolate O atom not bound to Ni(II). Each [Ni(trn)](-) unit acts as a tridentate ligand toward the Ln(III) ion via two bridging and one nonbridging phenolate donors. Remarkably, in all of the structurally characterized complexes, Ln(III) is seven-coordinate and has a flattened pentagonal bipyramidal geometry. Such uniform coordination behavior along the whole lanthanide series is rare and can perhaps be attributed to a mismatch between the geometric requirements of the bridging and nonbridging phenolate donors. Magnetic studies indicate that ferromagnetic exchange occurs in the Ni(II)/Ln(II) complexes where Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, or Er.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Food deprivation-induced expression of minoxidil sulfotransferase in the hypothalamus uncovered by microarray analysis.

We used oligonucleotide microarrays to analyze comprehensively hypothalamic gene expression changes that correlate with energy homeostasis. We compared the hypothalamic gene expression profiles of freely fed and 48-h fasted rats using 26,379 oligonucleotide probe sets. Expression of 96 genes was up-regulated and expression of 73 genes was down-regulated in a statistically significant manner with fasting. The gene encoding the enzyme minoxidil sulfotransferase, an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of sulfonate groups to biogenic amines and other substrates, was foremost among a set of genes whose mRNAs were uniformly detectable and displaying the greatest transcriptional changes with fasting. Northern blot analysis indicated that minoxidil sulfotransferase mRNA is up-regulated in the fasted rat and mouse, ob/ob mouse, and fa/fa rat. Results of reverse transcription quantitative PCR indicated that minoxidil sulfotransferase mRNA is also up-regulated in the microdissected arcuate and paraventricular nuclei of the fasted rat. Several index genes known to be either up-regulated (neuropeptide Y) or down-regulated (amphetamine-regulated transcript and proopiomelanocortin) with fasting were also found to be present among our set of "differentially expressed" genes. This study identifies a novel gene induced by fasting and demonstrates the feasibility of using oligonucleotide microarrays for the study of complex neuronal processes.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Redefining gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) cell groups in the male Syrian hamster: testosterone regulates GnRH mRNA in the tenia tecta.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) regulates the production of testosterone via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and testosterone, in turn, regulates the GnRH system via negative feedback. We compared testosterone regulation of GnRH mRNA expression in four anatomically defined GnRH cell groups in juvenile and adult male Syrian hamsters, including a rostral population of GnRH cells in the tenia tecta. In situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH) was used to measure GnRH mRNA in brains from castrated juveniles and adults treated with 0 mg or 2.5 mg testosterone pellets for one week. ISHH was performed on coronal sections using a 35S-cRNA probe generated from Syrian hamster GnRH cDNA. Testosterone treatment resulted in a significant reduction in mean area of GnRH neurones covered by silver grains within the tenia tecta, but only a trend toward decreased GnRH mRNA in the diagonal band of Broca/organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (DBB/OVLT), medial septum (MS), and caudal preoptic area (cPOA). The effects of testosterone were independent of age. Frequency distribution analyses unveiled a significant reduction in the number of heavily labelled cells following testosterone treatment within the tenia tecta and MS. Simple regression analyses revealed a significant positive correlation between plasma luteinizing hormone concentrations and GnRH mRNA only in the tenia tecta. These data indicate that, overall, GnRH mRNA is modestly reduced by testosterone, and the most robust attenuation of GnRH mRNA occurs within the tenia tecta. This is the first report to link mechanisms of steroid negative feedback with tenia tecta GnRH neurones, providing a new focus for investigating brain region-specific steroidal regulation of GnRH synthesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Evaluation of Affymetrix Gene Chip sensitivity in rat hippocampal tissue using SAGE analysis. Serial Analysis of Gene Expression.

DNA microarrays are a powerful tool for monitoring thousands of transcript levels simultaneously. However, the use of DNA microarrays in studying the central nervous system faces several challenges. These include the detection of low-abundance transcripts in highly complex tissue as well as estimating relatively low-magnitude changes in transcript levels in response to experimental manipulation. Many transcripts important to brain function have low expression levels or are expressed in relatively few cells, making them difficult to detect in the complex background of brain tissue. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the sensitivity of Gene Chip detection of transcripts in brain by using results from serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) studies. The results of this comparison indicate that Affymetrix Gene Chips, like SAGE, only reliably detect medium- to high-abundance transcripts and that detection of low-abundance transcripts, many of which have great relevance to biological function in brain, is inconsistent. Specifically, we estimate that Gene Chips reliably detect no more than 30% of the hippocampal transcriptome when using a gross hippocampal dissection as the source tissue. This report provides the first broad evaluation of Affymetrix Gene Chip sensitivity relevant to studying the brain.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

ProbeMatchDB--a web database for finding equivalent probes across microarray platforms and species.

SUMMARY: ProbeMatchDB is a web-based database designed to facilitate the search of EST/cDNA sequences or STS markers that can be used to represent the same gene across different microarray platforms and species. It can be used for finding equivalent EST clones in the Research Genetics sequence verified clone set based on results from Affymetirx GeneChips. It will also help to identify probes representing orthologous genes across human, mouse and rat on different microarray platforms. AVAILABILITY: The database is accessible at http://brainarray.mhri.med.umich.edu/MARRAY/BC_ASP/brainarray.htm by clicking the 'Query ProbeMatchDB' link.

Animals↗