Temporal and Spatial Expression Dynamics of Persephin in the Developing Rat Brain

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to examine the developmental profile as well as the temporal and spatial distribution of neurotrophic factor persephin, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), striatum, hypothalamus, thalamus, cerebellum, and hippocampus of male Wistar Albino rats at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks of age. The study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Balikesir University, Balikesir, Türkiye, from 01/03/2024 to 01/04/2025. Male Wistar Albino rats; 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks old, were used in this study. Persephin levels at the PFC, striatum, hypothalamus, thalamus, cerebellum, and hippocampus were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to assess the normality of the data. Data that were not found to be normally distributed were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis test and Dunn's as post hoc test. The data that were found to be normally distributed were assessed using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's multiple comparisons post hoc test. Statistical analyses were conducted using the GraphPad Prism version 10.5. A biphasic temporal expression pattern for persephin was detected, with peak levels primarily observed at 1 and 6 weeks of age independently within the prefrontal cortex, striatum, cerebellum, hypothalamus, thalamus, and hippocampus. Our results demonstrate a temporal association between persephin levels and critical neurodevelopmental processes, suggesting a possible supportive role in neurogenesis, synaptic pruning, and maturation during the early postnatal and adolescent periods. The expression profile of persephin that we detected in our work highlights its potential involvement in the localized development of higher cognitive and sensory systems. So, dysregulation of persephin, as a member of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family, during these developmental phases may contribute to the formation of various neurodevelopmental disorders.