Distribution of Adrenocorticoid Receptors in the Rat CNS Measured by Competitive PCR and Cytosolic Binding

Overview

Journal J Mol Neurosci

Specialties Molecular Biology
Neurology

Date 1997 Aug 1

PMID 9356922

Citations 1

Authors

L N Marlier

F R Patacchioli

O Porzio

R Chiusaroli

P Borboni

R Lauro

L Angelucci

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Combined quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cytosolic binding assay techniques are used to measure mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA, Kd, and Bmax in various rat central nervous system (CNS) regions, namely amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, cortex, pituitary, and cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal cord. Two internal standards (i.s.) cDNA were cloned for quantitative PCR purposes. The i.s. templates differed from the respective wild-type (wt) templates for a single base-pair mutation introduced by PCR that generated a unique restriction site, thus allowing amplification products arising from coamplification of wt and i.s. to be distinguished. Results show that cerebellum, which displayed average Bmax values for both receptors, contained the highest level of MR and GR mRNA. Hippocampus also had a high level of MR mRNA. Low mRNA content was found in the hypothalamus for MR and GR as well as in the cortex for GR. High Bmax values for both MR and GR were found in the lumbar spinal cord, despite a modest mRNA content. The lowest Bmax values were found in the cortex for both receptors. It is, therefore, concluded that mRNA content and Bmax are not closely correlated in the rat CNS. These data suggest a differential regulation of various adrenocorticoid receptor isoforms. Moreover, this quantitative PCR method is very sensitive and can be used to assay small amounts of material in order to obtain absolute measurements of mRNA expression.

Citing Articles

Corticosterone treatment differentially affects adrenocorticoid receptors expression and binding in the hippocampus and spinal cord of the rat.

Patacchioli F, Angelucci L, Casolini P, Bottone A, Borboni P, Lauro R J Mol Neurosci. 1998; 11(1):95-103.

PMID: 9826789 DOI: 10.1385/JMN:11:1:95.

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