Temporal and spatial preferences of c-fos mRNA expression in the rat brain following cortical lesion.
The expression of the proto-oncogene c-fos is increased in neuronal cells by a number of stimuli and the usefulness of this gene as a marker of neuronal activity has been demonstrated. The temporal and spatial expression of c-fos mRNA following the induction of a unilateral cortical lesion have been investigated in the rat brain by Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization histochemistry. It was observed that the lesion evoked a rapid increase (20-fold) in the content of c-fos mRNA in the ipsilateral cortex, whereas in the contralateral cortex c-fos mRNA expression was more modest (7-fold). In the whole hippocampus a large and very rapid increase (17-fold) of c-fos mRNA expression was detected. The effect of a cortical lesion on Ca2+ uptake and membrane potential was also investigated. Using synaptosomes as a model system, we have provided evidence that Ca2+ entry via membrane depolarization increases in coordination with c-fos gene expression in neuronal cells. The principal conclusions from this study are that cortical lesions induce transient expression of the c-fos gene in specific neuronal cells of the rat brain.
Ruzdijic
S
S
Department of Neurobiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
Pekovic
S
S
Kanazir
S
S
Ivkovic
S
S
Stojiljkovic
M
M
Rakic
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D016762:Genes, fos / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009861:Onium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002132:Calcium Radioisotopes; D009861:Onium Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012313:RNA; D002118:Calcium; C013289:tetraphenylphosphonium