Distribution of Urocortins and Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptors in the Cardiovascular System

Figure 1

RT-PCR analysis for urocortin 1 (Ucn), CRF, CRF type1 receptor (CRF-R1), CRF type 2α receptor (CRF-R2α), and CRF type 2β receptor (CRF-R2β) mRNAs in four human hearts (patients 1–4) in the four constituent chambers (RA, right atrium; RV, right ventricle; LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle). Total RNA from placenta, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, and left atrium were used as positive controls for urocortin 1 and CRF, CRF-R1, -R2𝛼, and -R2𝛽, respectively. As a negative control for RT-PCR, RT was performed on total RNA samples in the absence of reverse transcriptase enzyme (data not shown). The bottom panel shows GAPDH employed as an internal control. P: Positive control (reproduced from [29] with kind permission from the Endocrine Society. Copyright 2002, The Endocrine Society).