DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF THE ALPHA-1C ADRENERGIC-RECEPTOR SUBTYPE IN RAT-TISSUES

THREE alpha1 adrenergic receptor subtypes have been identified by mole cular cloning techniques. However, the detection of the mRNA for the a lpha1C subtype has not yet been reported in rodent tissues. We have is olated from rat lung, by polymerase chain reaction techniques, a cDNA fragment corresponding to the third intracellular domain of the alpha1 C adrenergic receptor subtype. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid s equences of the cloned fragment presented an 87% and 96% identity, res pectively, with those from the bovine receptor. Analysis of the distri bution of the receptor mRNA in brain shows highest expression levels i n cerebellum and striatum, whereas in non-neural tissues the receptor is mainly expressed in lung and heart. It was also found that the gene sequence which codes for this domain is not interrupted by introns.