Elevated zinc transporter ZnT3 in the dentate gyrus of mast cell‐deficient mice

Abstract

Zinc is important in neurogenesis, but excessive levels can cause apoptosis and other pathologies leading to cognitive impairments. Mast cells are present in many brain regions including the hippocampus, an area rich in vesicular zinc. Mast cells contain zinc‐rich granules and a well‐developed mechanism for uptake of zinc ions; both features point to the potential for a role in zinc homeostasis. Prior work using the Timm stain supported this hypothesis, as increased labile zinc was detected in the hippocampus of mast cell‐deficient mice compared to wild‐type mice while no differences in total zinc were found between the two genotypes in the whole brain or other tissues. The current report further examines differences in zinc homeostasis between wild‐type and mast cell‐deficient mice by exploring the zinc transporter ZnT3, which transports labile zinc into synaptic vesicles. The first study used immunocytochemistry to localize ZnT3 within the mossy fibre layer of the hippocampus to determine whether there was differential expression of ZnT3 in wild‐type versus mast cell‐deficient mice. The second study used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) to determine total zinc content in the whole dentate gyrus of the two genotypes. The immunocytochemical results indicate that there are higher levels of ZnT3 localized to the mossy fibre layer of the dentate gyrus of mast cell‐deficient mice than in wild‐type mice. The ICP‐MS data reveal no differences in total zinc in dentate gyrus as a whole. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that mast cells participate in zinc homeostasis at the level of synaptic vesicles.

Expression and Distribution of Free Zinc in Penile Erectile Tissue

“…To analyze the expression of eNOS, nNOS, zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3), and synaptophysin, we performed immunofluorescence staining. ZnT3 is one of the zinc transporters localized in the synaptic vesicles of zinc secreting neurons [ 21 ], and synaptophysin is an abundant polytopic synaptic vesicle protein [ 22 ]. Antibodies against synaptophysin and ZnT3 were used to determine the cellular localization and changes in the protein expression levels of ZnT3 on penile tissue.…”

Genetic Inhibition of Plppr5 Aggravates Hypoxic-Ischemie-Induced Cortical Damage and Excitotoxic Phenotype

“…Then, PBS, 0.4% Na 2 S, 4% paraformaldehyde, 0.4% Na 2 S were injected into the heart in turn. Then removed the brain and put into 4% paraformaldehyde for fixation, and selected according to the hippocampal positioning of Wiqas et al (2020) . The section with the largest area of the dorsal hippocampus (Bregma-1.3 to -3.7 mm, The mouse brain in stereotaxic coordinates.…”