CATIONIC AMINO-ACID TRANSPORTER MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION IN RAT-KIDNEY AND LIVER

Expression of rat cationic amino acid transporter 2 (r-CAT-2) mRNA was studied in kidney and liver using Northern blot analysis and nonradio active ill situ hybridization with a probe identifying both the r-CAT- 2 alpha and -2 beta splice variants. Expression of r-CAT-2 mRNA was hi gher in the liver than in the kidney. Within the kidney, r-CAT-2 mRNA was more abundant in the outer and inner medulla than in the cortex. I n the liver lobule, the intensity of the hybridization signal in hepat ocytes decreased between the portal area and the central vein. In the kidney, hybridization signals were detected in parietal cells of Bowma n's capsule, various tubule cells of outer and inner medulla, in endot helial and interstitial cells of inner medulla, and in papillary epith elial cells.