SELECTIVE EXPRESSION OF C-MAS PROTOONCOGENE IN RAT CEREBRAL ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

NORTHERN blot analysis of cultured endothelial cells derived from rat cerebral resistance vessels demonstrated the presence of c-mas mRNA. T his is the first description of mds expression in non-neuronal cells. c-mas message was not detectable in cultured endothelial cells derived from other vascular beds, including rat aorta and mesenteric resistan ce vessels. Since c-mas has been purported to regulate the proliferati on response to angiotensin, the growth properties of all three endothe lial cell cultures were examined. The data indicated no differences in either basal or angiotensin-stimulated cell growth among brain, mesen teric or aortic-derived endothelial cells. These data suggest that c-m as is selectively expressed in brain endothelial cells and that this p roto-oncogene does not regulate cell proliferation in this cell type.