Wfs1 is expressed in dopaminoceptive regions of the amniote brain and modulates levels of D1-like receptors.
PLoS One 2017;
12:e0172825. [PMID:
28267787 PMCID:
PMC5436468 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0172825]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
During amniote evolution, the construction of the forebrain has diverged across
different lineages, and accompanying the structural changes, functional
diversification of the homologous brain regions has occurred. This can be
assessed by studying the expression patterns of marker genes that are relevant
in particular functional circuits. In all vertebrates, the dopaminergic system
is responsible for the behavioral responses to environmental stimuli. Here we
show that the brain regions that receive dopaminergic input through dopamine
receptor D1 are relatively conserved, but with some important
variations between three evolutionarily distant vertebrate lines–house mouse
(Mus musculus), domestic chick (Gallus gallus
domesticus) / common quail (Coturnix coturnix) and
red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta). Moreover, we find
that in almost all instances, those brain regions expressing D1-like dopamine
receptor genes also express Wfs1. Wfs1 has been studied
primarily in the pancreas, where it regulates the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
stress response, cellular Ca2+ homeostasis, and insulin production
and secretion. Using radioligand binding assays in wild type and
Wfs1-/- mouse brains, we show that the number of
binding sites of D1-like dopamine receptors is increased in the hippocampus of
the mutant mice. We propose that the functional link between Wfs1 and D1-like
dopamine receptors is evolutionarily conserved and plays an important role in
adjusting behavioral reactions to environmental stimuli.
Collapse