Localization of mRNA for beta-adrenergic receptor kinase in the brain of adult rats.

A cDNA encoding rat beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta-ARK) was cloned and sequenced. By in situ hybridization histochemistry of adult brain, beta-ARK mRNA was expressed intensely in the cerebellar granule cell layer and moderately in the hippocampal pyramidal cells and dentate granule cells. The neocortex and piriform cortex expressed it moderately to weakly, whereas the thalamus and hypothalamus expressed it weakly to faintly. No significant expression of the mRNA was detected in the caudate-putamen. Weak expression of beta-ARK mRNA was detected in several nuclei of the brainstem and in the spinal gray matter.