Expression of tachykinin NK2 receptor mRNA in human brain

Tachykinin NK2 receptors have been suggested to play an important role in t he central nervous system. This study, using reverse transcription-polymera se chain reaction revealed a detectable expression of NK2 receptor mRNA in various human brain regions, including the caudate nucleus, the putamen, th e hippocampus, the substantia nigra and the cerebral cortex. The distributi on of NK2 receptor expression in the cortex revealed a major expression in frontal and temporal cortex compared to occipital and parietal areas. These results provide a molecular basis for considering a role of NK2 receptors in human pathophysiology. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.