title: Localization of Activin and Activin Receptors in Rat Spinal Motoneurons.
abstract: The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether rat spinal motoneurons (a) produce activin protein and (b) transcribe mRNAs coding for the betaA-subunit of activin and activin receptors II and IIB. The production of activin was determined by immunocytochemistry. The expression and localization of the mRNAs were elucidated by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization techniques. We have observed that activin A protein was produced and mRNAs encoding activin betaA-subunit and activin receptors II and IIB were expressed by motoneurons of the rat spinal cord. Furthermore, the identity of RT-PCR products was confirmed by DNA sequencing. It is concluded that activin may have a functional role in the maintenance of rat spinal motoneurons. Copyright 1996 S. Karger AG, Basel
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Neurobiology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif., USA.
authors.forename: S.-Y.
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Z.
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: C.K.
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Haun