EXPRESSION AND LOCALIZATION OF CYSTEINE DIOXYGENASE MESSENGER-RNA IN THE LIVER, LUNG, AND KIDNEY OF THE RAT

The expressions of cysteine dioxygenase (CDO) gene in the liver, lung, skeletal muscle, and kidney were studied by in situ hybridization wit h a cDNA probe from rat liver CDO under normal conditions. Significant expression of the CDO gene was detected in the liver, lung, and kidne y, but not skeletal muscle. In the liver, the signal was confined to t he cytoplasm of the hepatocytes. Furthermore, the signal was stronger in the periportal than that in the perivenous areas. In the lung, an i ntensive signal was found in the bronchiolar epithelium. As to the kid ney, an intensive signal was observed in the distal convoluted tubules , while no signal was found in the proximal convultions.