Preferential expression of HSC70 heat shock mRNA in gerbil heart after transient brain ischemia.

Inductions of mRNAs for heat shock protein (HSP) 70 and heat shock cognate protein (HSC) 70 were examined in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, heart, lung, kidney, and liver of gerbils after a 10-min transient forebrain ischemia. HSP70 mRNA was normally expressed in a small amount in the cerebellum, lung, and kidney, but was not expressed in the heart or liver in a detectable amount. A very small amount of HSP70 mRNA was also present in the cerebral cortex. HSC70 mRNA was normally present in all the organs examined with a variety in the amount. Eight hours after the cerebral ischemia, the level of HSP70 mRNA increased in the cerebral cortex, lung, and kidney. HSC70 mRNA levels also increased in all the organs. However, the increase of HSC70 mRNA was remarkable in the heart. Transient cerebral ischemia caused subsequent hyperthermia. Treatment of gerbils with an artificial hyperthermia without cerebral ischemia increased the HSP70 and HSC70 mRNA levels as well. However, the HSC70 mRNA level in the heart after cerebral ischemia was much higher than that in the case with hyperthermic treatment. These results suggest that HSC70 mRNA was preferentially induced in the heart after transient forebrain ischemia that was not only due to the subsequent hyperthermia.