The use of real-time PCR to study the expression of thyroid hormone receptor beta 2 in the developing chicken

Thyroid hormones and their receptors (TRs) have critical functions in development and metabolism. In chicken, three TRs are known: TR alpha, TR beta 0, and TR beta 2. The latter was isolated from chicken eye, but its presence in other tissues has not yet been extensively investigated. We therefore developed a real-time PCR assay using a Taqman probe and primers based on the unique amino-terminal region of TR beta 2. We detected a strong TR beta 2 mRNA signal in the pituitary, confirmed with in situ hybridization, and in several other tissues. TR beta 2 mRNA was more abundant in the pituitary of newly hatched chicks than in 15-day-old embryos.