The embryonic and post-natal expression of the nicotinic receptor alpha 3-subunit in rat lower brainstem

The mRNA expression of the alpha 3 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit in the rat lower brainstem is more widespread in the embryo and at birth than in the mature brain, but the major cell groups expressing alpha 3 are generally the same, with two exceptions. The transcript for the alpha 3-subunit is transiently expressed in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN). Expression was very high in the embryonic and early post-natal VCN, but was significantly decreased in the VCN late in the post-natal period (about post-natal day 15). Conversely, alpha 3 mRNA was not expressed in the motor trigeminal nucleus until about PN3.