Identification of orexins and cognate receptors in the lacrimal gland of sheep
2012
Dall’Aglio, Cecilia | Mercati, Francesca | Maranesi, Margherita | Boiti, Cristiano
The aim of the present work was to study, by means of immunohistochemical and RT-PCR techniques, the presence and distribution of immunopositivity for orexin A and B (OXA and OXB) and orexin type 1 and 2 receptors (OX₁R and OX₂R) in the lacrimal gland of sheep as well as the gene expressions for prepro-orexin (PPOX) and cognate receptors. In serial sections, positive staining for OXA and OXB were localized in the same nervous fibers within the connective tissue septa. Positive staining for OX₁R was evidenced in the wall of small arteries while that for OX₂R was observed in the secretory portion of the acinar gland cells with a characteristic localization in the apical cytoplasm. RT-PCR analysis showed the presence of transcripts for PPOX, OX₁R and OX₂R in the sheep lacrimal gland; the gene expression of OX₁R was two-fold greater (p<0.01) than that of OX₂R. Taken together the present findings raise intriguing questions on the potential role of the orexinergic system in the regulation of lacrimal gland functions that require further investigations.
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