Study of pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA expression in human postmortem pituitaries.

Author(s): Mengod G, Vivanco MM, Christnacher A, Probst A, Palacios JM

Publication: Brain Res Mol Brain Res, 1991, Vol. 10, Page 129-37

PubMed ID: 1712887 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of PMI (2.5-66 h), patient age (60-90 y), and gender on the levels of POMC mRNA by ISH.

   Summary of Findings:

   No effect of PMI (2.5-66 h) was observed on POMC mRNA levels (p=0.8) by ISH, but between 39 h and 66 h there appeared to be a trend toward declining signal. As only 4 of the 53 specimens had a PMI of 39 h or more, the authors believe more sampling is necessary to fully examine this time period. Patient age and gender did not affect POMC levels (p=0.5, p=0.8, respectively). The variability in POMC levels was very large (standard deviation 74% of mean). Some specimens in all categories displayed a very low level of hybridization, but the authors do not believe it is due to mRNA degradation because adjacent staining for other markers was unaffected. The authors conclude that POMC levels are highly variable, but are not affected by PMI, patient age, or gender.

   Biospecimens

   • Tissue - Brain

   Preservative Types

   • Frozen

   Diagnoses:

   • Alzheimer's Disease
   • Autopsy
   • Depression
   • Parkinson's Disease
   • Schizophrenia
   • Normal

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   RNA	In situ hybridization

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Preaquisition	Postmortem interval	2.5 h - 66 h
   Preaquisition	Patient age	22 y - 103 y
   Preaquisition	Patient gender	Female Male

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