EXPRESSION OF MESSENGER-RNAS ENCODING BDNF AND ITS RECEPTOR IN ADULT-RAT HYPOTHALAMUS

WE used a digoxigenin-UTP-labeled cRNA probe with in situ hybridizatio n and Northern blot analysis to investigate the localization of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA and expression of its differen t transcripts in adult rat hypothalamus. As the BDNF gene is under the control of alternative multiple promoters, which provide tissue-speci fic gene expression, we studied whether these transcripts were express ed in adult hypothalamus. Our data revealed two novel sources of hypot halamic BDNF mRNA: the supraoptic and periventricular nuclei. In addit ion, we observed the expression of transcripts from exons I, II and II I as well as the presence of 1.6 and 4.2 kb BDNF mRNAs. Finally, our f indings confirmed expression of mRNA encoding neurotrophins receptors in the hypothalamus. (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.