DIFFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF THE CARBONIC-ANHYDRASE GENES FOR CA-VII (CAR7) AND CA-RP-VIII (CAR8) IN MOUSE-BRAIN

The spatial expression patterns of the two oc-carbonic anhydrase genes , CA VII and CA-RP VIII (called Car7 and Car8 in the mouse) were exami ned in the mouse brain by in situ hybridization. These two genes are t he most highly conserved evolutionarily among the mammalian alpha-CAs. Both genes showed a similarly wide expression pattern in the brain. I n the cerebrum, mRNA expression was detected in the pia, choroid plexu s, and neurons of the cortical layer, thalamus, and medial habenulae. A high level of expression appeared in the pyramidal and granular cell s of the hippocampus. In the cerebellum, both Car7 and Car8 were trans cribed to different degrees in the Purkinje cells, and a lower express ion level occured in the molecular and granular cell layers. Transcrip tion signals for both genes were excluded from the white matter region s.