Donna M. Simmons

• Ph.D.
• Research Associate at University of Southern California

Addendum to A Complete Protocol for in situ Hybridization...

The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) coordinates neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral responses to help maintain energy and body water balance. The rat paraventricular nucleus has three major divisions: descending with axonal projections to somatomotor-behavioral and autonomic circuitry, magnocellular neuroendocrine with proje...

The recent development of brain atlases with computer graphics templates, and of huge databases of neurohistochemical data on the internet, has forced a systematic re-examination of errors associated with comparing histological features between adjacent sections of the same brain, between brains treated in the same way, and between brains from grou...

As a starting point for constructing a high-resolution, resliceable computer graphics model for the extraction, quantitative analysis, display, and modeling of neuroanatomical data the outer border and the boundaries of inner divisions and parts of the paraventricular nucleus have been drawn for all 39 serial histological sections prepared for a pu...

The paraventricular nucleus (PVH) is a small bilateral group of neurons in the basal hypothalamus. PVH is a key brain structure in control of eating, drinking, response to stress, and other goal-oriented behaviors essential for life. Endocrine function is controlled directly by PVH neurons—via hypophysiotropic signaling molecules released into the...

The paraventricular nucleus (PVH) is a small bilateral group of neurons in the basal hypothalamus. PVH is a key brain structure in control of eating, drinking, response to stress, and other goal-oriented behaviors essential for life. Endocrine function is controlled directly by PVH neurons—via hypophysiotropic signaling molecules released into the...

The neuroanatomical rat brain viewer (NeuARt) is based on neuroanatomical extensions to the neurocore database system that allow neuroscientists to browse, compare, and query complex, spatially distributed patterns of the label obtained from different experiments at their desktops through a network connection. This chapter describes an ongoing info...

The distribution of progesterone receptors (PR) was mapped in the hypothalamus of the ewe using immunocytochemistry. These results were confirmed using in situ hybridization with a sheep-specific 35S-labelled riboprobe. In addition, the effect of oestrogen on the level of PR mRNA in the hypothalamus was examined in ovariectomized (OVX) ewes followi...

from publisher's website: "Computing the Brain provides readers with an integrated view of current informatics research related to the field of neuroscience. This book clearly defines the new work being done in neuroinformatics and offers information on resources available on the Web to researchers using this new technology. It contains chapters th...

From the Publisher's website: "Computing the Brain provides readers with an integrated view of current informatics research related to the field of neuroscience. This book clearly defines the new work being done in neuroinformatics and offers information on resources available on the Web to researchers using this new technology. It contains chapter...

We have used in situ hybridization to compare the distributions of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and ERβ messenger RNA (mRNA)-containing cells in the preoptic area and hypothalamus of ewes and rams. Perfusion-fixed brain tissue was collected from luteal phase ewes and intact rams (n = 4) during the breeding season. Matched pairs of sections were hybrid...

The distribution of progesterone receptors (PR) was mapped in the hypothalamus of the ewe using immunocytochemistry. These results were confirmed using in situ hybridization with a sheep-specific 35S-labelled riboprobe. In addition, the effect of oestrogen on the level of PR mRNA in the hypothalamus was examined in ovariectomized (OVX) ewes followi...

A reduction in inhibition (disinhibition) of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion by endogenous opioid systems in the hypothalamus is thought to be permissive of the preovulatory surge of GnRH and luteinising hormone (LH). In rats, proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus are reduced at the time of the LH surge, and...

mRNAs encoding two rat bHLH proteins, referred to as REB alpha and REB beta, have been identified as alternatively spliced transcripts derived from a single genomic locus. Alternative RNA processing events results in tissue-specific differences in the ratios of these two mRNAs. Although it exhibits a highly enriched level of expression in the devel...

The POU domain gene family of transcription factors share a conserved bipartite DNA binding domain, and exhibit distinct temporal and spatial patterns of expression during development, particularly in the forebrain. A cDNA encoding a new member of the POU-III class of the POU domain gene family, referred to as Brn-4, was isolated from a rat hypotha...

Specific nucleic acid sequences can be identified within cells using in situ hybridization. Hybridization for mRNA can document the distribution and amount of specific gene transcripts. Decalcification protocols used for immunohistochemistry in the cochlea were evaluated for use with in situ mRNA hybridization. No loss of mRNA was detected followin...

We have identified and characterized a new member of the leucine zipper (bZIP) gene family of transcription factors, thyrotroph embryonic factor (TEF). Analysis of the ontogeny of TEF gene expression reveals the presence of TEF transcripts, beginning on embryonic day 14, only in the region of the rat anterior pituitary gland in which thyrotrophs ar...

Previous work described in the rat a circumscribed, partly somatostatinergic, interneuronal projection from the esophageal afferent part of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTSc) to esophageal motor neurons in the compact formation of the nucleus ambiguous (NAcf: Cunningham and Sawchenko, J Neurosci 9:1668, 1989). In the present study, axonal tra...

Tst-1, a member of the POU domain gene family, is expressed in specific neurons and in myelinating glia in the mammalian nervous system. Bacterially expressed Tst-1 binds specifically to the promoter of the gene encoding myelin protein P0, a Schwann cell surface adhesion molecule. In cotransfection assays, Tst-1 can specifically repress the P0 prom...

Tst-1, a member of the POU domain gene family, is expressed in specific neurons and in myelinating glia in the mammalian nervous system. Bacterially expressed Tst-1 binds specifically to the promoter of the gene encoding myelin protein P0, a Schwann cell surface adhesion molecule. In cotransfection assays, Tst-1 can specifically repress the P0 prom...

Preproenkephalin mRNA production by efferent neurons projecting to the gerbil inner ear was assessed using combined in situ hybridization and retrograde labeling with fluorescent tracers. Virtually all vestibular efferent neurons were positive for preproenkephalin mRNA. Of the cochlear efferents, one-half of the medial olivocochlear neurons were po...

The ultimate control of the development of the inner ear, as with any organ system, results from the temporal and spatial expression of a selected array of genes. Recent developments in molecular biology have provided powerful tools for investigating the expression of genes and the mechanisms by which they direct the differentiation and maturation...

In situ hybridization histochemistry using complementary RNA probes revealed that alpha 3 and beta 2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit mRNAs were expressed in 12% and 40% of facial motoneurons of the rat, respectively. The alpha 3 subunit mRNA signals disappeared in response to axotomy, whereas the beta 2 subunit mRNA signal was rem...

Mutations at the mouse dwarf locus (dw) interrupt the normal development of the anterior pituitary gland, resulting in the loss of expression of growth hormone, prolactin and thyroid-stimulating hormone, and hypoplasia of their respective cell types. Disruptions in the gene encoding the POU-domain transcription factor, Pit-1, occur in both characte...

We have isolated rat brain cDNA clones encoding AE2, a homologue of the erythrocyte anion exchanger, band 3 (AE1). Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization reveal that, in brain, AE2 expression is restricted to the basolateral membrane of the choroid plexus epithelium. Expression of a full-length mouse AE2 cDNA in COS-7 cells resulted in chlor...

Development of the anterior pituitary gland involves proliferation and differentiation of ectodermal cells in Rathke's pouch to generate five distinct cell types that are defined by the trophic hormones they produce. A detailed ontogenetic analysis of specific gene expression has revealed novel aspects of organogenesis in this model system. The exp...

The distribution of seven kinds of neuropeptide precursor mRNA-containing neurons was investigated in the rat main and accessory olfactory bulbs, where various peptides have previously been identified immunohistochemically, by means of in situ hybridization using [35S]cRNA probes. In the glomerular layer, numerous preprothyrotropin-releasing hormon...

We have isolated AE3, a novel gene expressed primarily in brain neurons and in heart. The predicted AE3 polypeptide shares a high degree of identity with the anion exchange and cytoskeletal binding domains of the erythrocyte band 3 protein. Expression of AE3 cDNA in COS cells leads to chronic cytoplasmic acidification and to chloride- and bicarbona...

Alternative RNA processing, such as brain- and heart-specific generation of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) transcripts from the calcitonin/CGRP gene, is thought to be mediated by tissue-specific factors. We have cloned three related but distinct cDNAs encoding small nuclear ribonucleoparticle (snRNP)-associated proteins from rat PC12 cells....

Prolactin gene expression is restricted to the lactotrophic and somatomammotrophic cells of the anterior pituitary. In transgenic mice, a fusion gene consisting of 3 kb of prolactin 5'-flanking region fused to a firefly luciferase or human growth hormone (hGH) reporter gene is expressed at high levels with the strict tissue and cell-type specificit...

A novel region referred to as the POU-domain is present in two tissue-specific transcription factors, Pit-1 and Oct-2, that activate expression of genes specifying pituitary and lymphocyte phenotypes. We report the identification of multiple new members of a large family of POU-domain genes expressed in adult brain, and document that all the known...

Nature 34O, 35-42 (1989). IN this Article there is an error in the amino acid sequence encoded by Tst-1 gene (hybridizing to 7.6, 4.4, 3.2 and 2.4Kb brain mRNAs) reported in Fig. 16, two residues before the end of POU-specific domain. The correct sequence is ... WLEETD... instead ... WLEE AD.... D

The three major classes of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVH) provide a rich model for studying hormonal and neural influences on multiple neuropeptides expressed in individual cells. A great deal of previous work has examined this problem at the immunohistochemical level, where hormonal and neural influences on peptide levels have been e...

Follistatin is a glycosylated single-chain protein originally isolated from porcine follicular fluid. It specifically inhibits the secretion of FSH from the pituitary. We have now isolated and characterized a cDNA for rat follistatin from the PMSG-stimulated ovarian library. The deduced amino acid sequence of the rat follistatin precursor is highly...

The expression of basic FGF mRNA, while virtually absent in peripheral tissues, appears to be constitutively expressed in the central nervous system. As such, while it is difficult to detect any mRNA encoding basic FGF in the heart, lung, kidneys, ovaries, liver, or pituitary of rats, the levels are easily detected in brain. A regional analysis of...

The low density lipoprotein receptor and one of its ligands, apoprotein E, are known to be synthesized in the central nervous system. In the current study, we used in situ hybridization to localize the receptor mRNA in selected neurons and glia throughout the nervous system of 9-day-old rabbits. Particularly high levels were found in sensory gangli...

Multiple related cis-active elements required for cell-specific activation of the rat prolactin gene appear to bind a pituitary-specific positive transcription factor(s), referred to as Pit-1. DNA complementary to Pit-1 mRNA, cloned on the basis of specific binding to AT-rich cell-specific elements in the rat prolactin and growth hormone genes, enc...

Gene expression may occur in unexpected ectopic sites when diverse genetic elements are juxtaposed as chimeric genes in transgenic mice. To determine the specific contribution of the promoter and reporter gene in ectopic expression, we have analyzed the expression of 14 different fusion genes in transgenic mice. Chimeric genes containing the mouse...

The distribution of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChR) in the rat and mouse central nervous system has been mapped in detail using monoclonal antibodies to receptors purified from chicken and rat brain. Initial studies in the chicken brain indicate that different neuronal AChRs are contained in axonal projections to the optic lobe in the midb...

The use of a variety of probes for neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors has indicated that there are sites on neurons that bind the acetylcholine receptor antagonist alpha-bungarotoxin, but do not regulate cation channels in response to the binding of acetylcholine. Sites with high binding affinity for nicotine and for alpha-bungarotoxin also...

We have used an in situ RNA X RNA hybridization technique to determine, in the central nervous systems of the mouse and rat, the distribution of RNA homologous to cDNA clones encoding the alpha subunit of a putative neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the alpha subunit of the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Hybridization of the neu...

The development of methods for introducing foreign genes into the germ line of mice provides an approach for studying mechanisms underlying inducible and developmental gene regulation. Transgenic animals expressing foreign genes have thus been used to test models of the role played by specific DNA sequences in determining cell-specific expression....

A patient with Cushing's syndrome is described who had a metastatic medullary carcinoma of the thyroid which contained corticotropin-releasing factor. ACTH was found by an immunohistochemical method in the patient's pituitary, but not in the thyroid tumor. This is the second report demonstrating corticotropin-releasing factor in tumor tissue in thi...

A punch sampling, tissue solubilization, and scintillation counting technique has been devised for the quantitative identification of tritiated d-amphetamine in monkey brain tissue. The method is superior to autoradiography in identifying this water soluble radiochemical, and is easier and more anatomically precise than radiochemical assay of brain...

ABSTRACT: Lesions were made in parietal cortex, temporal operculum, and spinal cord of macaque monkeys. Connections were traced to the posterior thalamus using the Fink-Heimer I or Wiitanen methods. The postcentral gyrus projected strongly to n. ventralis posterior medialis and lateralis, with small projections to n. pulvinaris oralis, n. lateralis...

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Southern California, 2006. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 294-316).