Abstract
Publisher Summary This chapter delineates the potential of the oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) genes to be regulated by ligand-activated transacting factors of the steroid/thyroid hormone superfamily, reveals the sensitivity of the OT gene to estrogens and thyroid hormone, and outlines the mapping of elements involved in the response. The VP gene does not contain response elements in the investigated fragment (2 kb) of the 5' flanking region, which indicates that the regulatory control elements of OT and VP genes are distinctly different. Although, there are similarities in the responses, this indicates that VP and OT expressing neurons in vivo have the intrinsic capacity to respond specifically with OT or VP gene expression. Because sequences necessary for proper OT expression are known, transgenic animals could be made with mutated regulatory elements to study the significance of this particular element for proper expression and regulation of the OT gene. The cell lines may then provide model systems to study the regulation of VP and OT gene expression in a cellular environment, which closely resembles the normal VP- and OT-neurons.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
