TYROSINE-HYDROXYLASE GENE-EXPRESSION IN HUMAN VENTRAL MESENCEPHALON - DETECTION OF TYROSINE-HYDROXYLASE MESSENGER-RNA IN NEURITES

The distribution of both tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antigen and messenger RNA was investigated in the ventral mesencephalon from human brain using a 35S‐labeled human TH cDNA probe and a polyclonal TH antibody. A hybridization signal was detected not only in the perikaryon but also in the neurites, most probably dendrites, of immunoreactive neurons. In cell bodies, the level of TH mRNA varies, revealing a regional heterogeneity. In the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease the number of labeled cells was markedly reduced as compared to controls. Copyright © 1990 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.