Expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide(1) receptor mRNA in human trigeminal ganglia and cerebral arteries

Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers for the recently cloned human CGRP(1) receptor detected mRNA expression of CGRP(1) 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 CGRP(1) receptor. The presence of the CGRP(1) receptor mRNA in human trigeminal ganglia and cerebral blood vessels, indicates the occurrence of both prejunctional (trigeminal) and postjunctional location (blood vessels) of the CGRP(1) receptor. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.