EXPRESSION OF MESSENGER-RNAS FOR NEUROTROPHINS AND THEIR RECEPTORS INTHE RAT CHOROID-PLEXUS AND DURA-MATER

THE presence of the neurotrophin, nerve growth factor, brain derived n eurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3 and neurotrophin-4 (NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4) and their receptors of the tyrosine kinase family (trkA, tr kB and trkC) have been investigated in the choroid plexus and dura mat er of the adult rat by ribonuclease protection assay. The choroid plex us contained high levels of mRNAs for NGF and NT-4, and low levels of NT-3 and BDNF mRNA; and high levels of trkB mRNA, and undetectable lev els of trkA and trkC mRNA. In the dura mater there were high levels of NT-3 and NGF, and low levels of BDNF and NT-4 mRNAs; and high levels of trkC mRNA, and relatively high amount of trkB mRNA, while levels of trkA mRNA was undetectable. The present analysis revealed a different distribution of neurotrophins and their related receptors in the chor oid plexus and dura mater.