title: GAP-43 mRNA localization in the rat hippocampus CA3 field.
abstract: Gene expression of the axonal growth-associated protein, GAP-43, has been studied in the adult rat brain by in situ hybridization histochemistry. This protein is synthesized at high levels in neuronal somata in immature and regenerating neurons, but after establishment of mature synaptic relations its synthesis generally declines sharply, thus providing a marker denoting propensity for exhibiting synaptic plasticity. Detailed examination of the distribution of mRNA for GAP-43 in rat hippocampus is selectively and robustly expressed in the pyramidal neurons of field CA3 and, to a lesser extent, the polymorph neurons of the hilus of the dentate gyrus. Additional hippocampal regions of moderate expression include the tenia tecta and the subicular and entorhinal fields, but CA1 and CA2 are strikingly lower in signal. The significance of this pattern of localization is considered in the context of the phosphorylation of GAP-43 and its role in influencing synaptic events underlying the establishment and maintenance of long-term potentiation and plasticity in the hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, UCLA Medical Center 90024.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bendotti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rivolta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Samanin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D015870:Gene Expression; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011493:Protein Kinase C