Examination of the effect of artemin on the postnatal development process in different neuroanatomical regions in rats

Aim: Artemin is one of four members of the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family. Artemin plays a role in the development of the nervous system, neuronal differentiation, survival, and neurite growth. Our study investigated the effect of artemin on postnatal development in different neuroanatomical regions of the central nervous system in rats. Material and Method: Three groups were formed from 9-, 41-, and 70-day-old male Wistar albino rats; each group consisted of 10 animals. The subjects were sacrificed under 50 mg/kg ketamine +10 mg/kg xylazine anesthesia. After sacrifice, the prefrontal cortex (PFC), striatum, and cerebellum of each rat were removed according to the rat brain atlas. Artemin protein levels were measured in the obtained samples using the ELISA method, and GFRα3 mRNA levels, which is the co-receptor of artemin, were measured using the qRT-PCR method. The One-way ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis. Results: When comparing each brain region by age, no significant differences were found in artemin levels. When examined by age, it was observed that GFRα3 mRNA levels in the cerebellum of 41-day-old (adolescent) rats were significantly higher than those in 9-day-old rats. When examined regionally, cerebellum artemin levels were found to be significantly higher than in other regions in all three age groups. When the regional distribution of GFRα3 mRNA levels was examined, some significant differences were found between regions in each age group. Conclusion: This study is the first to examine artemin protein and GFRα3 mRNA levels during the postnatal development of the central nervous system in rats. When comparing levels of artemin by age group in each region, no significant differences were found. Artemin levels in the cerebellum were found to be significantly higher than in other regions in all three age groups. GFRα3 mRNA levels were found to be significantly higher in the cerebellum of adolescent subjects than in 9-day-old subjects. The cerebellum may be vulnerable to factors affecting artemin and GFRα3 levels particularly during adolescence and beyond. Similarities between artemin levels in the PFC and striatum and some correlations between artemin protein and GFRα3 mRNA levels in these two regions suggest that artemin may be transported between these regions.