DISTRIBUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF G(ALPHA-I-2) MESSENGER-RNA IN THE RATCEREBRAL-CORTEX INVESTIGATED WITH IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION AND RNASE PROTECTION ASSAY

The distribution of the G(alpha i-2) mRNA was investigated with in sit u hybridization on tissue sections of the rat cerebral cortex. A non-r adioactive method based on digoxygenin labelled cRNA was used for in s itu hybridization. The G(alpha i-2) mRNA was shown to be present predo minantly in large neuronal shaped cells in laminae II-III. The ontogen ic development of the expression of G(alpha i-2) mRNA in the rat cereb ral cortex was quantified using a solution hybridization RNAse protect ion assay. The abudnancy of G(alpha i-2) mRNA was shown to increase si gnificantly from embryonic day 16 to adult age. The amount of G(alpha i-2) mRNA in adult cerebral cortex of the rat brain was 23 amol/mu g R NA. The distribution and ontogenic development of G(alpha i-2) mRNA ar e discussed.