EXPRESSION OF CALCIUM-CHANNEL ALPHA(1A) MESSENGER-RNA AND PROTEIN IN THE LEANER MOUSE (TG(LA) TG(LA)) CEREBELLUM/

Homozygous leaner mice carry an autosomal recessive mutation in the Ca 2+ channel subunit gene, alpha(1A), causing them to exhibit severe ata xia, petit-mal-like epilepsy and a myoclonus-like movement disorder. E xpression of alpha(1A) mRNA in cerebella from 20-day-old homozygous le aner mice was compared to control mice, using in situ hybridization hi stochemistry. Expression of alpha(1A) protein was examined in cerebell a from 20-day-old homozygous leaner and control mice using immunocytoc hemistry. No differences in either mRNA or protein expression of the a lpha(1A) subunit were observed when homozygous leaner mice were compar ed to age-matched controls. Therefore, functional alterations in P/Q-T ype Ca2+ channels containing the alpha(1A) subunit need to be explored to further understand the relationship of mutations in the alpha(1A) gene to the pathogenesis of the neurologic disorders occurring in lean er mice. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.