Expression of mRNA for Akt, serine-threonine protein kinase, in the brain during development and its transient enhancement following axotomy of hypoglossal nerve

By in situ hybridization histochemistry, expression of mRNAs for the two species of serine/threonine protein kinase Akt, Akt1 and Akt2, were examined in the mouse brain during normal development and in the hypoglossal nucleus following axotomy. On the embryonic days, the gene expression for Akt1 and Akt2 was detected at high levels throughout the entire neuroaxis, then decreased gradually to adult levels during postnatal development. In the adult brain, the gene expression for Akt1 and Akt2 was weak in almost all neurons with no difference of expression levels. The expression level of Akt1 mRNA in the affected hypoglossal nucleus increased dramatically after 48 h to 7 d following axotomy of the hypoglossal nerve, whereas no change was seen in the level of Akt2 mRNA. The present findings suggest that Akt may contribute some important roles not only in neurogenesis, but also in regeneration of injured neuron.