DISTRIBUTION OF GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR MESSENGER-RNA IN THE RAT SPINAL-CORD

USING in situ hybridization (ISH), we studied the distribution of rat glucocorticoid receptors (GR) mRNA in rat spinal cord. mRNA encoding f or GR was abundant throughout the white matter and a clear pattern of distribution was detected within the grey matter. In the grey matter m RNA was primarily localized in the ventral horn, where motoneurones we re strongly labelled. In the dorsal horn, the distribution appears mor e diffuse but the superficial layers (I and II) clearly exhibited a sh igher signal. We conclude that, in rat spinal cord, GR are present in both glial and neuronal cells. In particular, both somatosensory and m otor pathways contain GR.