Cellular distribution of GAP-43 mRNA in hippocampus and cerebellum of adult rat brain by in situ RT-PCR.
The growth-associated protein GAP-43 is a presynaptic membrane phosphoprotein that plays a key role in guiding the growth of axons and in modulating the formation of new synapses. To identify the cells that synthesize GAP-43 mRNA, we applied direct in situ reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (in situ RT-PCR) in cerebellum and hippocampus of adult rat brain. In situ RT-PCR revealed GAP-43 mRNA in cerebellar granule cells, in Purkinje cells and in some interneurons of the molecular layer. Previous in situ hybridization studies had demonstrated a dense label throughout the granular layer of the cerebellar cortex but no labeling of other cerebellar neurons. Hippocampal cells showing distinct GAP-43 mRNA signal after in situ RT-PCR were CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons, CA4 hilar cells, and dentate gyrus granule cells, whereas in situ hybridization studies had detected GAP-43 mRNA only in CA3 and CA1 pyramidal neurons. Our data indicate that GAP-43 mRNA is widely distributed, suggesting that many cell types are potentially involved in synaptic plasticity events. (J Histochem Cytochem 49:1195-1196, 2001)
Casoli
T
T
Neurobiology of Aging, INRCA Research Department, Via Birarelli 8, Ancona AN 60121, Italy. t.casoli@inrca.it
Di Stefano
G
G
Gracciotti
N
N
Giovagnetti
S
S
Fattoretti
P
P
Solazzi
M
M
Bertoni-Freddari
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger