Identification of C-type natriuretic peptide gene transcripts in glial cells

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), a third member of the natriuretic peptide family, is found throughout the central nervous system (CNS), particularly in those regions involved in neuroendocrine regulation. Astrocytes, which have important physiological roles in normal neuronal functioning, express receptors of CNP. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), followed by hybridization with a digoxigenin-labelled cDNA probe, we have demonstrated the expression of CNP gene transcripts in both cultured mouse astrocytes and rat C6 glioma cells, with the former expressing the gene at a considerably higher level than the latter. Our data raise the possibility that CNP may act in autocrine and/or paracrine fashion in glial cell physiology and neuromodulate communication between glial cells and neurones.