PUBLICATION
Light and melatonin schedule neuronal differentiation in the habenular nuclei
- Authors
- de Borsetti, N.H., Dean, B.J., Bain, E.J., Clanton, J.A., Taylor, R.W., and Gamse, J.T.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-110816-29
- Date
- 2011
- Source
- Developmental Biology 358(1): 251-61 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Clanton, Joshua, Dean, Benjamin, Gamse, Josh, Taylor, Robert
- Keywords
- epithalamus, photoperiod, circadian rhythm, neuropil, zebrafish, neurogenesis, pineal organ
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Cell Differentiation/physiology*
- Cloning, Molecular
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Gene Expression Regulation/radiation effects
- Habenula/cytology*
- Habenula/physiology
- In Situ Hybridization
- Light*
- Melatonin/metabolism*
- Neurogenesis/physiology*
- Neurons/physiology*
- Photoperiod
- Receptors, Melatonin/genetics
- Receptors, Melatonin/metabolism
- Zebrafish/embryology*
- PubMed
- 21840306 Full text @ Dev. Biol.
Citation
de Borsetti, N.H., Dean, B.J., Bain, E.J., Clanton, J.A., Taylor, R.W., and Gamse, J.T. (2011) Light and melatonin schedule neuronal differentiation in the habenular nuclei. Developmental Biology. 358(1):251-61.
Abstract
The formation of the embryonic brain requires the production, migration, and differentiation of neurons to be timely and coordinated. Coupling to the photoperiod could synchronize the development of neurons in the embryo. Here, we consider the effect of light and melatonin on the differentiation of embryonic neurons in zebrafish. We examine the formation of neurons in the habenular nuclei, a paired structure found near the dorsal surface of the brain adjacent to the pineal organ. Keeping embryos in constant darkness causes a temporary accumulation of habenular precursor cells, resulting in late differentiation and a long-lasting reduction in neuronal processes (neuropil). Because constant darkness delays the accumulation of the neurendocrine hormone melatonin in embryos, we looked for a link between melatonin signaling and habenular neurogenesis. A pharmacological block of melatonin receptors delays neurogenesis and reduces neuropil similarly to constant darkness, while addition of melatonin to embryos in constant darkness restores timely neurogenesis and neuropil. We conclude that light and melatonin schedule the differentiation of neurons and the formation of neural processes in the habenular nuclei.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping