The embryonic and post-natal expression of the nicotinic receptor alpha(3)-subunit in rat lower brainstem

The mRNA expression of the alpha(3) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit in the rat lower brainstem is more widespread in the embryo and at birth than in the mature brain, but the major cell groups expressing alpha(3) are generally the same, with two exceptions. The transcript for the alpha(3)-subunit is transiently expressed in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN), Expression was very high in the embryonic and early post-natal VCN, but was significantly decreased in the VCN late in the post-natal period (about post-natal day 15). Conversely, alpha(3) mRNA was not expressed in the motor trigeminal nucleus until about PN3. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.