Distribution of preprocholecystokinin mRNA in motoneurons of the rat brainstem and spinal cord.
The distribution of cholecystokinin (CCK)-immunoreactive neurons in the central nervous system has been questioned because many antisera raised against CCK have been found to cross-react with calcitonin gene-related peptide. The use of in situ hybridization histochemistry has allowed investigators to determine which CCK-immunoreactive cells actually contain the messenger RNA (mRNA) coding for preprocholecystokinin (preproCCK), thus indicating that the peptide is synthesized in these cells. In this study, we report the distribution of preproCCK mRNA in the brainstem and spinal cord of the rat. The main findings of this study are the localization of preproCCK mRNA in motoneurons of cranial nerves IV, V, VI, VII and XII, as well as in motoneurons of the cervical and lumbrosacral levels of the spinal cord. Additionally, cells in lamina III at the cervical and lumbar enlargements contain preproCCK mRNA, suggesting that cells expressing CCK may be important in the processing of sensory information from the appendages.
Abelson
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Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brain Research Institute, UCLA School of Medicine 90024-1736.
Micevych
P E
PE
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000235:genetics*; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes
D011498:Protein Precursors; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; C042082:preprocholecystokinin; D002766:Cholecystokinin