title: [Expression of urotensin II mRNA in normal adrenal medulla and pheochromocytoma tissues].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union College Hospital, Peking Union College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Guo-qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zheng-pei
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Han-zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin-rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Dong-mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: An-li
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014579:Urotensins; C029677:urotensin II