Lack of translation of normal 7B2 mRNA levels in hypothalamic mutant vasopressin cells of the homozygous Brattleboro rat

Abstract

The homozygous Brattleboro rat (di/di) synthesizes a vasopressin (VP) precursor with an aberrant C-terminus, which causes a hypothalamic form of diabetes insipidus. The neuroendocrine polypeptide 7B2 is present in VP and oxytocin (OT) neurons of the supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in wild type rats. However, in the di/di rat 7B2 immunoreactivity is absent in the VP cell population, whereas 7B2 levels within the OT cells are unaffected. Remarkably, there is no obvious difference in 7B2 transcript levels between VP and OT neurons in the di/di rat hypothalamus. This study shows that the presence of mRNA does not automatically result in the subsequent synthesis of its protein. Cellular mechanisms underlying this discrepancy are discussed.