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Expression of Serotonin Transporter Messenger RNA in the Human Brain
Author(s) -
Austin Mark C.,
Bradley Christopher C.,
Mann J. John,
Blakely Randy D.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1994.62062362.x
Subject(s) - in situ hybridization , dorsal raphe nucleus , serotonin transporter , substantia nigra , raphe nuclei , biology , serotonin , ventral tegmental area , human brain , locus coeruleus , midbrain , northern blot , serotonin plasma membrane transport proteins , locus ceruleus , messenger rna , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , nucleus , serotonergic , dopamine , central nervous system , gene , genetics , receptor , dopaminergic
The characterization and cellular localization of human brain mRNA encoding the serotonin transporter were investigated using northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization histochemistry. In contrast to results from rodent studies, in which single hybridizing mRNAs are detected in brain and periphery, northern analysis of human midbrain raphe tissue revealed the presence of three mRNA species absent from samples prepared from sub‐stantia nigra/ventral tegmental area. In situ hybridization studies revealed dense hybridization signal corresponding to serotonin transporter mRNA highly localized to neurons of the dorsal and median raphe nuclei and the caudal linear nucleus. No hybridization signal was observed in neurons of the substantia nigra or locus ceruleus. These findings demonstrate the first anatomical visualization of human brain serotonin transporter gene expression and reveal heterogeneity associated with serotonin transporter transcripts, similar to, but distinct from the pattern of expression visualized in human peripheral tissues.