Analysis of the expression level of alpha-synuclein mRNA using postmortem brain samples from pathologically confirmed cases of multiple system atrophy

To determine whether multiple system atrophy (MSA) is associated with alter ed expression levels of the alpha -synuclein messenger RNA (mRNA), we perfo rmed quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for alpha -synuclein mRNA using postmortem brain samples from I I cases of MSA and 1 4 age-matched control subjects. The brain specimens used in this study cont ained both the gray matter and white matter, which were dissected from the frontal, temporal or occipital lobe. The expression levels of alpha -synucl ein mRNA in the brain specimens of MSA cases were not different from those of the control subjects. These results suggest that the transcriptional reg ulation of the alpha -synuclein gene is unlikely to be affected in MSA brai ns.