CEREBELLIN AND CEREBELLIN MESSENGER-RNA IN THE HUMAN BRAIN, ADRENAL-GLANDS AND THE TUMOR-TISSUES OF ADRENAL-TUMOR, GANGLIONEUROBLASTOMA ANDNEUROBLASTOMA

The expression of cerebellin and cerebellin mRNA was studied by radioi mmunoassay and Northern blot analysis in the human brain, adrenal glan d and the tumour tissues of adrenal tumour, ganglioneuroblastoma and n euroblastoma. Immunoreactive cerebellin was detected in every region o f brain studied, with the highest concentrations found in the hemisphe re of the cerebellum (424.2 +/- 12.6 pmol/g wet weight, n = 6, mean +/ - S.E.M.) and the vermis of the cerebellum (256.8 +/- 30.5 pmol/g wet weight). Immunoreactive cerebellin was also detected in the pituitary (8.2 +/- 1.8 pmol/g wet weight), the spinal cord (3.3 +/- 0.3 pmol/g w et weight) and the normal parts of adrenal glands (2.98 +/- 0.37 pmol/ g wet weight, n = 9) and some tumour tissues, such as phaeochromocytom as, cortisol-producing adrenocortical adenomas, ganglioneuroblastomas and neuroblastomas. Northern blot analysis showed that cerebellin mRNA was highly expressed in the hemisphere and vermis of the cerebellum. Cerebellin mRNA was also expressed in other regions of the brain and t he tumour tissues of phaeochromocytoma, cortisol-producing adrenocorti cal adenoma, ganglioneuroblastoma and neuroblastoma. Immunocytochemist ry of the normal adrenal gland showed that immunoreactive cerebellin w as localized in the adrenal medulla. The present study has shown the e xpression of cerebellin and cerebellin mRNA, not only in the cerebellu m but also in other regions of the brain and some rumours, such as cor tisol-producing adrenocortical adenoma, phaeochromocytoma and neurobla stoma. These findings suggest possible pathophysiological roles of cer ebellin peptides, not only in the cerebellum, but also in the extra-ce rebellar tissues.