12-lipoxygenase mRNA expression by cultured neurons

12-hydroxy 5,8,14-cis 10-trans eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) and its derivatives are the principal lipoxygenase (Lox) products of the mammalian brain. These metabolites have been proposed to play a key role as second messengers in synaptic transmission and might function as retrograde messengers in learning and memory processes: the long-term potentiation. The exact source(s) of 12-HETE and neuronal implication have not been definitively established. The present work was therefore designed to study 12-Lox mRNA expression in neural cell cultures. Detection of this mRNA from cellular extract was obtained by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and localization in neurons by in situ RT-PCR. These results argue for 12-Lox neuronal production.