Cholecystokinin A and B receptor mRNA expression in human pancreas

Little information is available on the expression of cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors in the human pancreas, especially in the developing pancreas. We evaluated expression patterns for the CCK receptors in human pancreas at th ree different ages: fetus, infant, and adult. Expressions of CCK-A and CCK- B receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) were studied in human midtrimester fetus (1 4-15 weeks' gestation), infant (50 days old), and adult pancreas by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Southern blot analysis. Expression levels of mRNA for both receptors also were evaluated by Northern blot analysis of adult pancreas. Northern blot analysis showed a strong signal for CCK-B receptor mRNA in adult pancreas, but no detectab le signal for CCK-A receptor mRNA. However, RT-PCR/Southern blotting showed the presence of CCK-A receptor mRNA in adult pancreas. This was confirmed by sequencing of the complementary DNA (cDNA). RT-PCR/Southern blot analysi s also showed CCK-A and CCK-B receptor mRNA expression in fetal and infant pancreas. These results show that the both CCK receptor types are expressed in human pancreas at stages of early gestation, but there is predominant e xpression of CCK-B receptor in adult pancreas.