Distribution of alpha-1 adrenoceptor subtypes in RNA and protein in rabbit eyes

We investigated subtypes of alpha-1 adrenoceptor (AR) in rabbit ocular tissues using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT - PCR), in situ hybridization (ISH) and binding studies. Competitive RT - PCR assays specific for the subtypes of alpha-1 AR revealed that the mRNA expression of alpha-1a AR was dominant, and that of each alpha-1b and alpha-1d was less than 10% and 0.5% of total alpha-1 ARs mRNA, respectively, in the iris, ciliary body, choroid and retina. In alpha-1a AR splice isoform-specific RT - PCR assays, we found a distinct proportion of each isoform mRNA in the iris, ciliary body and choroid. The results of the ISH assays for alpha-1a AR subtype showed that hybridization signals were clearly observed in the iris dilator muscle and in the epithelium of the ciliary processes. In binding studies, alpha-1A AR was a dominant subtype in the iris, choroid and retina in contrast to the ciliary body that had more alpha-1B than alpha-1A AR subtype at protein level.