Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) mRNA and protein in the adult human brain
Section snippets
Subject details
Different brain series were used for the mRNA and protein studies. Series 1 comprised 11 subjects from the Clinical Brain Disorders Branch (NIMH), mean, (S.D.); age, 47 (13) yr, range, 24–66; pH 6.5 (0.2), range, 6.14–6.87; postmortem interval (PMI) 22 (10) h, range, 10–37; and series 2, six subjects from the Oxford brain series, age 50 (22) yr, range 17–79; pH 6.49 (0.2), range, 6.27–6.89; PMI 49 (18) h, range, 20–72. Subjects had no history of neurological or psychiatric illness and
NRG-1 mRNA in the human brain
Northern blots of brain regions and lung hybridized with the NRG-1 riboprobe showed transcripts of approximately 2, 3 and 6–7 kb (data not shown), consistent with previous reports (Wen et al., 1992, Chen et al., 1994, Bermingham-McDonogh et al., 1996). For in situ hybridization, no signal was observed in any area when control sections were hybridized with sense strand riboprobe (Fig. 1A). Together these investigations indicate that riboprobe hybridization signal reflects specific detection of
Discussion
The present study shows that NRG-1 mRNA and protein continue to be expressed in many regions of the adult human brain. The northern and Western blots confirm the presences of several isoforms. NRG-1 expression is primarily but not exclusively neuronal. Within neurons, different populations have varying levels of NRG-1 mRNA and immunoreactivity, its expression being prominent in pyramidal neurons and Purkinje cells. Intra-neuronal NRG-1 shows a complex distribution, both within cell bodies,
Conclusion
Our data show a widespread and differential expression of NRG-1 in neuronal and glial populations of the adult human brain. Within neurons, NRG-1 is expressed mainly somatodendritically, but with evidence of axonal localization as well. The persistent expression of NRG-1 into adulthood supports a continuing (or different) role for NRG-1 in the functioning of the mature brain. To extend the current observations, future studies will require more comprehensive mapping, both anatomically and
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