Calcitonin gene-related peptide messenger RNA is expressed in sensory neurones of the dorsal root ganglia and also in spinal motoneurones in man and rat

Abstract Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) mRNA was localised to neurones of the dorsal root ganglia and motoneurones of the ventral horn in man and rat. Presence of α- and β-CGRP mRNA was confirmed by Northern blot analysis of rat tissues which showed α-CGRP was the predominant gene. The distribution of CGRP gene transcripts corresponded with neurones displaying CGRP immunoreactivity in the ganglia of both species and in the rat ventral horn. In man few motoneurones were immunoreactive despite many expressing CGRP mRNA. In situ hybridisation revealed not only sensory but also motor neurones are sites of CGRP manufacture. Thus in conjunction with other evidence the present study reinforces the proposed muscle trophic role for this peptide.