Expression of guanylate cyclase C in human prefrontal cortex depends on sex and feeding status

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Martina Ratko
• Author: Vladiana Crljen
• Author: Martina Tkalčić
• Author: Anton Mažuranić
• Author: Pero Bubalo
• Author: Petar Škavić
• Author: Ivan Banovac
• Author: Aleksandra Dugandžić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Croatian Institiute for Brain Research)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Physiology and Immunology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Basic Medical Sciences; Anatomy
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Basic Medical Sciences; Human Physiology

Abstract (english)

Introduction: Guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) has been detected in the rodent brain in neurons of the cerebral cortex, amygdala, midbrain, hypothalamus, and cerebellum.

Methods: In this study we determined GC-C protein expression in Brodmann areas (BA) 9, BA10, BA11, and BA32 of the human prefrontal cortex involved in regulation of feeding behavior, as well as in the cerebellar cortex, arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus and substantia nigra in brain samples of human 21 male and 13 female brains by ELISA with postmortem delay < 24 h.

Results: GC-C was found in all tested brain areas and it was expressed in neurons of the third cortical layer of BA9. The regulation of GC-C expression by feeding was found in male BA11 and BA10-M, where GC-C expression was in negative correlation to the volume of stomach content during autopsy. In female BA11 there was no correlation detected, while in BA10-M there was even positive correlation. This suggests sex differences in GC-C expression regulation in BA11 and BA10-M. The amount of GC-C was higher in female BA9 only when the death occurred shortly after a meal, while expression of GC-C was higher in BA10-O only when the stomach was empty. The expression of GC-C in female hypothalamus was lower when compared to male hypothalamus only when the stomach was full, suggesting possibly lower satiety effects of GC-C agonists in women.

Discussion: These results point toward the possible role of GC-C in regulation of feeding behavior. Since, this is first study of GC-C regulation and its possible function in prefrontal cortex, to determine exact role of GC-C in different region of prefrontal cortex, especially in humans, need further studies.

• Keywords (english): cerebellum; feeding; human prefrontal cortex; hypothalamus; substantia nigra
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
• Numbering: vol. 17, 1361089
• e-ISSN: 1662-5099
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2024.1361089
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:784475
• Publication: 2024-05-22
• Document URL: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2024.1361089/full
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2025-01-27 12:00:35