Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was initially described as important for dopaminergic neuronal survival and is involved in many other essential functions in the central nervous system. Characterization of GDNF phenotype in mammals is well described; however, studies in non-mammalian vertebrate models are scarce. Here, we characterized the anatomical distribution of gdnf-expressing cells in adult zebrafish brain by means of combined in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed that gdnf was widely dispersed in the brain. gdnf transcripts were co-localized with radial glial cells along the ventricular area of the telencephalon and in the hypothalamus. Interestingly, Sox2 positive cells expressed gdnf in the neuronal layer but not in the ventricular zone of the telencephalon. A subset of GABAergic precursor cells labeled with dlx6a-1.4kbdlx5a/6a: green fluorescence protein (GFP) in the pallium, parvocellular preoptic nucleus, and the anterior and dorsal zones of the periventricular hypothalamus also showed expression with gdnf mRNA. In addition, gdnf signals were detected in subsets of dopaminergic neurons, including those in the ventral diencephalon, similar to what is seen in mammalian brain. Our work extends our knowledge of gdnf action sites and suggests a potential role for gdnf in adult brain neurogenesis and regeneration.
Highlights
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is the most studied member of the GDNF family of ligands (GFLs), which consists of neurturin, artemin, and persephin
The results revealed that gdnf expression is widely distributed in the adult brain (Figure 1A)
In the forebrain, strong gdnf signals were detected in the olfactory bulb (OB) (Figure 1B), dorsal (Dd and Medial zone of dorsal telencephalic area (Dm)), and ventral (Vd and Vv) telencephalic area (Figure 1C–E)
Summary
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is the most studied member of the GDNF family of ligands (GFLs), which consists of neurturin, artemin, and persephin. GDNF has a high affinity toward the GDNF family receptors (GFR)α1, which activates the intracellular signaling cascades such as MAP kinases and Akt through the receptor tyrosine kinase RET and/or the neural cell adhesion molecule [1,2,3]. GDNF is widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems such as motor neurons [10]. The presence of GDNF in these neurons is correlated with its significant role in neuroprotection. Study of tissue-specific GDNF expression in the developing human fetal brain suggests critical importance in the development and maintenance of various types
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