[Expression of urotensin II mRNA in normal adrenal medulla and pheochromocytoma tissues].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of human urotensin II (UII) mRNA in normal adrenal medulla and pheochromocytoma tissues.


METHODS
The total RNA of normal adrenal medulla from 9 males who died of accidents and the total RNA of pheochromocytoma tissues resected from 19 patients were extracted. The expression of UII mRNA was studied by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). UII and its internal control GAPDH were co-amplified in the same tube. Semi-quantitative analysis of the mRNA expression level of UII was carried out based on the ratios of the grey scale of the amplified target band to that of the control band (UII/GAPDH).


RESULTS
The amplified product of UII is a 385 bp fragment and 99.7% of the bases were the same as the sequence registered in the GenBank. The UII/GAPDH in the normal adrenal medullae and pheochromocytomas were 0.69 +/- 0.29 (n = 9) and 0.22 +/- 0.18 (n = 19) respectively (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both the normal adrenal medulla and pheochromocytoma express UII mRNA. The expression of UII mRNA is lower in pheochromocytoma than in normal adrenal medulla.
Liu
Guo-qiang
GQ
Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union College Hospital, Peking Union College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Zeng
Zheng-pei
ZP
Li
Han-zhong
HZ
Fan
Xin-rong
XR
Liu
Dong-mei
DM
Tong
An-li
AL
Zheng
Xin
X
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014579:Urotensins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014579:Urotensins; C029677:urotensin II