title: Preprotachykinin-A and substance P receptor (NK1) gene expression in rat astrocytes in vitro.
abstract: The presence of mRNA transcripts coding for preprotachykinin-A and the substance P receptor in cultured astrocytes is demonstrated by a combination of reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blotting. These findings showed that astrocytes in culture are capable of synthesing both the precursor of substance P (preprotachykinin-A) and the cognate receptor, substance P receptor (NK1). The simultaneous presence of both the ligand (substance P) and the receptor (NK1) may indicate an autocrine nature of astrocyte communication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge Crescent.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Too
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Marriott
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Wilkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D013373:Substance P / Q000235:genetics*; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D015320:Tachykinins; C044206:preprotachykinin; D013373:Substance P