Differential expression of the neuronal acetylcholine receptor alpha 2 subunit gene during chick brain development.
In situ hybridization histochemistry reveals localized expression of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) alpha 2 subunit mRNA restricted to the lateral spiriform nucleus (SpL) of the chick diencephalon. The alpha 2 nAChR transcripts are not detected in immature SpL neurons at 4.5-5 days of embryonic development. They begin to accumulate in the SpL at embryonic day 11 and increase until the newborn stage. Specific alpha 2 cDNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction shows that during this period, the absolute content of alpha 2 mRNA increases about 20-fold. The expression of the alpha 2 nAChR gene is thus developmentally regulated and appears concomitant with the entry of cholinergic fibers into the SpL, as demonstrated by choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry.
Daubas
P
P
U.A. CNRS D1284, Neurobiologie Moléculaire Département des Biotechnologies, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
Devillers-Thiéry
A
A
Geoffroy
B
B
Martinez
S
S
Bessis
A
A
Changeux
J P
JP
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000196:embryology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology*; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000502:physiology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000196:embryology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic