EXPRESSION OF MULTIPLE C-KIT RECEPTOR MESSENGER-RIBONUCLEIC-ACID TRANSCRIPTS DURING POSTNATAL-DEVELOPMENT OF THE RAT TESTIS

The c-kit protooncogene is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor ex pressed during gametogenesis. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR ), we have identified the c-kit receptor mRNA transcripts in the rat t estis and studied their expression during postnatal development of the testis. Five different transcripts were identified using sets of prim ers encoding within the extracellular domain. Two transcripts were obt ained from primer sets encoding regions within the cytoplasmic domain and the primer set encoding the entire length of the c-kit receptor. W e have compared the levels of expression of these transcripts on diffe rent days during postnatal development. The level of expression of a p articular transcript varied depending upon the developmental stage of the testis. In summary, our results suggest that multiple forms of mRN As exist for the c-kit receptor in the rat testis, and they are regula ted differentially during postnatal development. (C) 1996 Academic Pre ss, Inc.