Localization and characterization of val‐opsin isoform‐expressing cells in the brain of adult zebrafish. Issue 17 (11th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hang, Chong Yee; Kitahashi, Takashi; Parhar, Ishwar S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of comparative neurology. Volume 522:Issue 17(2014:Dec. 01)
• Page Start: 3847
• Page End: 3860
• Publication Date: 2014-08-11
• Subjects: Comparative neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1002/cne.23645
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9967

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>In addition to vision, light information is used to regulate a range of animal physiology. Such nonimage‐forming functions of light are mediated by nonvisual photoreceptors expressed in distinct neurons in the retina and the brain in most vertebrates. A nonvisual photoreceptor vertebrate ancient <italic>long</italic> opsin (VAL‐opsin) possesses two functional isoforms in the zebrafish, encoded by <italic>valopa</italic> and <italic>valopb</italic>, which has received little attention. To delineate the neurochemical identities of <italic>valop</italic> cells and to test for colocalization of the <italic>valop</italic> isoforms, we used in situ hybridization to characterize the expression of the <italic>valop</italic> genes along with that of neurotransmitters and a neuropeptide known to be present at the sites of <italic>valop</italic> expression. Double labeling showed that the thalamic <italic>valop</italic> population coexpresses <italic>valopa</italic> and <italic>valopb</italic>. All the thalamic <italic>valop</italic> cells overlapped with a GABAergic cell mass that continues from the anterior nucleus to the intercalated thalamic nucleus. A novel <italic>valopa</italic> cell population found in the superior raphe was serotonergic in nature. A <italic>valopb</italic> cell population in the Edinger‐Westphal nucleus was identified as containing thyrotropin‐releasing hormone. <italic>Valopb</italic> cells localized in the hindbrain intermediate reticular formation were noncholinergic in nature (nonmotorneurons). Thus, the presence of <italic>valop</italic> cell populations in different brain regions with coexpression of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides and the colocalization of <italic>valop</italic> isoforms in the thalamic cell population indicate regulatory and functional complexity of VAL‐opsin in the brain of the zebrafish. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:3847–3860, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </abstract>