Quantitative comparison of mu opioid receptor mRNA in selected CNS regions of alcohol naive rats selectively bred for high and low alcohol drinking.
We combined solution hybridization, ribonuclease protection and microdissection techniques to quantitatively compare the anatomical distribution of mu receptor mRNA in discrete brain regions of alcohol naive rats selectively bred for high and low alcohol drinking (HAD and LAD lines, respectively). The solution hybridization assay is highly sensitive and can detect mu opioid receptor mRNA in a 100-fold linear range from 4 to 421 amol. HAD and LAD rats exhibited a similar level of mu receptor mRNA in all central nervous system (CNS) regions examined except for the inferior colliculus. Our data suggest that the steady-state level of mu receptor mRNA is not associated with genetic differences in alcohol drinking behavior.
Gong
J
J
Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
Li
X W
XW
Lai
Z
Z
Froehlich
J C
JC
Yu
L
L
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000235:genetics*; D012260:Ribonucleases; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D012260:Ribonucleases