Differential expression of the α1C adrenergic receptor subtype in rat tissues

Abstract

THREE α₁ adrenergic receptor subtypes have been identified by molecular cloning techniques. However, the detection of the mRNA for the α_1C subtype has not yet been reported in rodent tissues. We have isolated from rat lung, by polymerase chain reaction techniques, a cDNA fragment corresponding to the third intracellular domain of the á_1C adrenergic receptor subtype. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the cloned fragment presented an 87% and 96% identity, respectively, with those from the bovine receptor. Analysis of the distribution of the receptor mRNA in brain shows highest expression levels in cerebellum and striatum, whereas in non-neural tissues the receptor is mainly expressed in lung and heart. It was also found that the gene sequence which codes for this domain is not interrupted by introns.