Expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide1 receptor mRNA in human trigeminal ganglia and cerebral arteries

Abstract

Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers for the recently cloned human CGRP1 receptor detected mRNA expression of CGRP1 receptors in trigeminal ganglia and cerebral vessels, obtained at autopsy or during neurosurgical tumor resections. An RT-PCR product of the expected size (339 bp) was seen in cerebral arteries, both in the presence and in the absence of endothelium and in trigeminal ganglia. Sequence analysis of the RT-PCR product of the published sequence showed 100% homology with the human CGRP1 receptor. The presence of the CGRP1 receptor mRNA in human trigeminal ganglia and cerebral blood vessels, indicates the occurrence of both prejunctional (trigeminal) and postjunctional location (blood vessels) of the CGRP1 receptor.