Expression of the mRNAs for the Kv3.1 potassium channel gene in the adult and developing rat brain
T. M. Perney, J. Marshall, K. A. Martin, S. Hockfield and L. K. Kaczmarek Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510. 1. The gene for a mammalian Shaw K+ channel has recently been cloned and has been shown, by alternative splicing, to give rise to tw...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Journal of neurophysiology 1992-09, Vol.68 (3), p.756-766 |
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Zusammenfassung: | T. M. Perney, J. Marshall, K. A. Martin, S. Hockfield and L. K. Kaczmarek
Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
1. The gene for a mammalian Shaw K+ channel has recently been cloned and
has been shown, by alternative splicing, to give rise to two different
transcripts, Kv3.1 alpha and Kv3.1 beta. To determine whether these
channels are associated with specific types of neurons and to determine
whether or not the alternately spliced K+ channel variants are
differentially expressed, we used ribonuclease (RNase) protection assays
and in situ hybridization histochemistry to localize the specific subsets
of neurons containing Kv3.1 alpha and Kv3.1 beta mRNAs in the adult and
developing rat brain. 2. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed a
heterogeneous expression pattern of Kv3.1 alpha mRNA in the adult rat
brain. Highest Kv3.1 alpha mRNA levels were expressed in the cerebellum.
High levels of hybridization were also detected in the globus pallidus,
subthalamus, and substantia nigra reticulata. Many thalamic nuclei, but in
particular the reticular thalamic nucleus, hybridized well to Kv3.1
alpha-specific probes. A subpopulation of cells in the cortex and
hippocampus, which by their distribution and number may represent
interneurons, were also found to contain high levels of Kv3.1 alpha mRNA.
In the brain stem, many nuclei, including the inferior colliculus and the
cochlear and vestibular nuclei, also express Kv3.1 alpha mRNA. Low or
undetectable levels of Kv3.1 alpha mRNA were found in the caudate-putamen,
olfactory tubercle, amygdala, and hypothalamus. 3. Kv3.1 beta mRNA was also
detected in the adult rat brain by both RNase protection assays and by in
situ hybridization experiments. Although the beta splice variant is
expressed at lower levels than the alpha species, the overall expression
pattern for both mRNAs is similar, indicating that both splice variants
co-expressed in the same neurons. 4. The expression of Kv3.1 alpha and
Kv3.1 beta transcripts was examined throughout development. Kv3.1 alpha
mRNA is detected as early as embryonic day 17 and then increases gradually
until approximately postnatal day 10, when there is a large increase in the
amount of Kv3.1 alpha mRNA. Interestingly, the expression of Kv3.1 beta
mRNA only increases gradually during the developmental time frame examined.
Densitometric measurements indicated that Kv3.1 alpha is the predominant
splice variant found in neurons |
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ISSN: | 0022-3077 1522-1598 |
DOI: | 10.1152/jn.1992.68.3.756 |