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Manserin, a neuropeptide discovered in the rat brain, is distributed in the spiral ganglion of the inner ear and carotid body, suggesting it is also localized in another neuron cluster. In this study, we examined manserin's localization in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord of adult Wistar rats using immunohistochemical analyses. The DRG consists of neurofilament (NF) 200-positive large cells and two types of small cells (calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-positive peptidergic neurons and isolectin B4 (IB4)-positive non-peptidergic neurons). Manserin was localized in some of the small cells. Fluorescence double immunostaining showed that manserin-positive cells corresponded to some of the CGRP-positive cells. The DRG comprises pseudo-unipolar cells that receive sensory information from the skin and viscera and project to each layer of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Manserin was localized in the CGRP-positive layer I and II outer, but not in the IB4-positive layer II inner. These results suggest manserin is localized in CGRP-positive cells in the DRG, projects to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, and is secreted with other neuropeptides, such as CGRP, to participate in nociceptive function.

Auditory hypersensitivity in autism is frequently observed in clinics. Dysfunction in the auditory brainstem has been suspected. We have established autism model rats using prenatal thalidomide exposure. Here we investigated whether abnormal response occurs in the brainstem following sound stimulus in autism model rats. Autism model rats were prepared by prenatal exposure to thalidomide on embryonic days 9 and 10 in pregnant rats. Then, the animals were exposed to 16-kHz pure tone auditory stimulus and c-Fos immunostaining was performed to examine the neuronal activity on postnatal day 49 to 51. Following sound stimulus, increased number of c-Fos-positive neurons was observed in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body of autism model rats compared with the control rats. These results suggest that prenatal thalidomide might cause altered processing of auditory stimulus, leading to the characteristics of auditory hypersensitivity in autism.

Background: Maternal viral infection during pregnancy induces morphological abnormalities in the fetus and may cause emotional and psychological problems in offspring through unknown mechanisms. We have previously shown that prenatal exposure of rats to chemicals such as thalidomide causes an autistic-like phenotype in offspring, indicating that prenatal events affecting serotonergic development may cause developmental disorder. Methods: We investigated whether prenatal viral infection altered the expression of neurotransmitters involved in the emotional or psychological status of offspring. We here took advantage of the polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C) system, the synthetic double-stranded RNA, which is often used in animal models of viral infection. Results: Ten mg/kg of poly I:C was intraperitoneally injected on gestational day (GD) 9 and counted the numbers of serotonin-immunopositive cells on GD15 using flat whole-mount preparation method, resulting 11.1% of increase in the number of serotonergic neurons in poly I:C group. Furthermore, there was a significant decrease in hippocampal serotonin content in offspring by postnatal day 50 following poly I:C administration by high-performance liquid chromatography. Discussion and Conclusion: Since serotonin is known to link with behavior and emotion after birth, these results suggest that maternal viral infection might cause, in addition to morphological abnormalities, serotonin-related pathogenesis such as neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders.

The carotid body, located at the bifurcation of the common carotid artery, is a small sensory organ that detects changes in oxygen concentration and plays a vital role in controlling respiration. Although several molecules, such as neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, are involved in the regulation of the respiratory system, their detailed mechanisms have not been established yet. This study identifies that the presence of manserin, a neuropeptide, in the carotid body may play a crucial role in regulating respiration. The carotid bodies of adult Wistar rats were perfused with paraformaldehyde, and the frozen sections were subjected to immunohistochemical analyses. The carotid body comprises two distinct types of cells, neuron-like glomus cells and glial-like sustentacular cells. We used specific antibodies to distinguish the specific location of manserin in the carotid body, which included a tyrosine hydroxylase-positive antibody for glomus cells and an S100 protein antibody for sustentacular cells. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that while tiny, round signals were exclusively observed in the cytoplasm of glomus cells, no signals were observed in sustentacular cells. Because manserin is believed to be secreted from precursor proteins by the endoproteolytic processing of a large precursor protein called secretogranin II, manserin secretion systems may exist in the carotid body, and thus, behave as potential regulators of respiration in the carotid body.

The thyroid gland is an endocrine organ which is involved in metabolism, neuroexcitability, body growth and development. The thyroid gland is also involved in the regulation of calcium metabolism, which is not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated the localization of the granin-derived neuropeptide, manserin, in the adult rat thyroid gland. Manserin immunoreactivity was detected in thyroid follicular epithelial cells. Intense manserin signals were also detected in some, but not all, parafollicular cells, indicating that parafollicular manserin may be subtype-specific. These results indicate that thyroid manserin may play pivotal roles in parafollicular cells and follicular epithelial cells such as in calcium metabolism and/or thyroid hormone secretion. (C) 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Thimerosal, an organomercury compound, has been widely used as a preservative. Therefore, concerns have been raised about its neurotoxicity. We recently demonstrated perturbation of early serotonergic development by prenatal exposure to thimerosal (Ida-Eto et al. (2011) [11]). Here, we investigated whether prenatal thimerosal exposure causes persistent impairment after birth. Analysis on postnatal day 50 showed significant increase in hippocampal serotonin following thimerosal administration on embryonic day 9. Furthermore, not only serotonin, striatal dopamine was significantly increased. These results indicate that embryonic exposure to thimerosal produces lasting impairment of brain monoaminergic system, and thus every effort should be made to avoid the use of thimerosal.

The development of facial nuclei in animal models of disease is poorly understood, but autism is sometimes associated with facial palsy. In the present study, to investigate migration of facial neurons and initial facial nucleus formation in an animal model of autism, rat embryos were treated with valproic acid (VPA) in utero at embryonic day (E) 9.5 and their facial nuclei were analyzed by in situ hybridization at E13.5, E14.5 and E15.5. Signals for Tbx20, which is expressed in early motor neurons, appeared near the floor plate at the level of the vestibular ganglion and extended caudolaterally, where they became ovoid in shape. This pattern of development was similar between control and VPA-exposed embryos. However, measurements of the migratory pathway and the size of the facial nuclei revealed that exposure to VPA hindered the caudal migration of neurons to the facial nuclei. Signals for cadherin 8, which is expressed in mature facial nuclei, revealed that exposure to VPA caused a significant reduction in the size of the facial nuclei. Our findings provide the first quantitative description of tangential migration and nucleus formation in the developing hindbrain in a rat model of autism.

Manserin is a 40–amino acid neuropeptide derived from rat brain. Manserin has been shown to distribute in the neuroendocrine system, such as the pituitary and adrenal glands, but it has been little studied in other organs. In this study, the authors examined localization of manserin in the inner ear of the adult Wistar rat using immunohistochemical analyses. Manserin immunoreactivity was detected in the neuronal terminals of the organ of Corti and type II spiral ganglion cells. In addition to being identified in the auditory system, manserin was detected at the synapses of the vestibular system, such as saccule, utricle, and semicircular canal. These results suggest that inner ear manserin may be involved in the function of peripheral auditory and vestibular systems.

Impairments of endothelin receptor B (Ednrb/EDNRB) cause the development of Waardenburg-Shah syndrome with congenital hearing loss, hypopigmentation, and megacolon disease in mice and humans. Hearing loss in Waardenburg-Shah syndrome has been thought to be caused by an Ednrb-mediated congenital defect of melanocytes in the stria vascularis (SV) of inner ears. Here we show that Ednrb expressed in spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in inner ears is required for postnatal development of hearing in mice. Ednrb protein was expressed in SGNs from WT mice on postnatal day 19 (P19), whereas it was undetectable in SGNs from WT mice on P3. Correspondingly, Ednrb homozygously deleted mice (Ednrb(-/-) mice) with congenital hearing loss showed degeneration of SGNs on P19 but not on P3. The congenital hearing loss involving neurodegeneration of SGNs as well as megacolon disease in Ednrb(-/-) mice were markedly improved by introducing an Ednrb transgene under control of the dopamine β-hydroxylase promoter (Ednrb(-/-);DBH-Ednrb mice) on P19. Neither defects of melanocytes nor hypopigmentation in the SV and skin in Ednrb(-/-) mice was rescued in the Ednrb(-/-);DBH-Ednrb mice. Thus, the results of this study indicate a novel role of Ednrb expressed in SGNs distinct from that in melanocytes in the SV contributing partially to postnatal hearing development.

The cerebellum has long been recognized as the primary center of motor coordination in the central nervous system. Cerebellar neuropeptides have been postulated to be involved in such motor coordination, though this role is not fully understood. We herein investigated the localization of novel neuropeptide, "manserin" in the adult rat cerebellum. Punctate signals of manserin immunoreactivity were observed in the granular layer of the rat cerebellum. Manserin signals were also observed in the fibers and fiber terminals in the granular layer as well as the molecular layer. Manserin did not localize in Purkinje cells. Interestingly, cerebellar manserin was preferentially colocalized with unipolar brush cells, a class of excitatory granular layer interneuron, which are known to be involved in vestibullocerebellar functions. These results indicate that manserin plays pivotal roles in the cerebellar functions.

Gynecological disorders related to menstrual cycle may be affected by stress and can cause infertility. Manserin is a stress-related neuropeptide that is present in the neuroendocrine system. In the present study, we determined the localization of manserin in the oviduct of adult Wistar rats using immunohistochemical techniques. Manserin was detected on the surface of the epithelium of the oviduct, but not in the ovary and uterus. Localization of manserin was specific to a large portion of the isthmus and to a small portion of the ampulla. These results suggest that manserin localizes to secretory cells in the oviduct and may be involved in stress-induced gynecological disorders.

Even though neuronal toxicity due to organomercury compounds is well known, thimerosal, an organomercury compound, is widely used in pediatric vaccine preservation. In the present study, we examined whether embryonic exposure to thimerosal affects early development of serotonergic neurons. Thimerosal (1 mg Hg/kg) was intramuscularly administered to pregnant rats on gestational day 9 (susceptible time window for development of fetal serotonergic system), and fetal serotonergic neurons were assessed at embryonic day 15 using anti-serotonin antibodies. A dramatic increase in the number of serotonergic neurons localized to the lateral portion of the caudal raphe was observed in thimerosal group (1.9-fold increase, p < 0.01 compared to control). These results indicate that embryonic exposure to thimerosal affects early development of serotonergic neurons.

A significantly increased risk for dominant sensorineural deafness in patients who have Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) caused by endothelin receptor type B and SOX10 has been reported. Despite the fact that c- RET is the most frequent causal gene of HSCR, it has not been determined whether impairments of c- Ret and c- RET cause congenital deafness in mice and humans. Here, we show that impaired phosphorylation of c-Ret at tyrosine 1062 causes HSCR-linked syndromic congenital deafness in c- Ret knockin (KI) mice. The deafness involves neurodegeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) with not only impaired phosphorylation of Akt and NF-κB but decreased expression of calbindin D28k in inner ears. The congenital deafness involving neurodegeneration of SGNs in c- Ret KI mice was rescued by introducing constitutively activated RET. Taken together with our results for three patients with congenital deafness with c- RET –mediated severe HSCR, our results indicate that c- Ret and c- RET are a deafness-related molecule in mice and humans.

c-Ret has been shown to be crucial for neural development and survival. We have recently shown that complete impairment of tyrosine 1062 (Y1062)-phosphorylation in c-Ret causes congenital hearing loss with neurodegeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in homozygous c-Ret knockin mice (c-Ret-KI(Y1062F/Y1062F)-mice). However, there is no information to link c-Ret and age-related hearing loss. Here we show that partial impairment of Y1062-phosphorylation in c-Ret accelerates age-related hearing loss in heterozygous c-Ret Y1062F knockin mice (c-Ret-KI(Y1062F/+)-mice). In contrast, complete impairment of serine 697 (S697)-phosphorylation in c-Ret did not affect hearing levels in 10-month-old homozygous c-Ret S697A knockin mice (c-Ret-KI(S697A/S697A)-mice). The hearing loss involved late-onset neurodegeneration of spiral ganglion neurons in c-Ret-KI(Y1062F/+)-mice. Morphological abnormalities in inner- and outer-hair cells and the stria vascularis in c-Ret-KI(Y1062F/+)-mice were undetectable. The acceleration of age-related hearing loss in c-Ret-KI(Y1062F/+)-mice was rescued by introducing constitutively activated RET. Thus, our results suggest that c-Ret is a novel age-related hearing loss-related molecule in mice. Our results suggest that these hearing losses partially share a common pathogenesis that is monogenetically caused by a single point mutation (Y1062F) in c-Ret.