Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 125, Issue 2, 29 April 1991, Pages 241-245
Neuroscience Letters

Regional expression of transforming growth factor-α mRNA in the rat central nervous system

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(91)90039-VGet rights and content

Abstract

The expression of transforming growth factor-α (TGFα) mRNA in various regions of the adult rat central nervous system (CNS), as well as in selected peripheral tissues was examined using Northern blot analysis. The highest expression was found in the cervical spinal cord, with the levels of TGFα mRNA being 5- to 6-fold higher in this tissue than in any other examined. Significant expression was also found in the olfactory bulb, anterior olfactory nucleus, corpus striatum, hippocampus, ventral mesencephalon and caudal brainstem. Of the peripheral tissues examined, only adrenal gland expressed TGFα mRNA at similar levels. Lower, but detectable, expression was found in prefrontal cortex, cerebral cortex and cerebellum. The latter levels were similar to those observed in lung, liver, kidney and, variably, salivary gland. These data demonstrate a widespread but differential distribution of TGFα mRNA throughout the rat CNS, and indicate relatively high levels of expression of this growth factor in central versus peripheral tissues.

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    Present address: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40536-0084, U.S.A.

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