Heterogeneous expression of P450 2C12 mRNA in female rat liver

The heterogeneous expression of P450 2C12 mRNA was studied in the rat liver. Liver was sampled from female rat, approximately 40 mg portions being removed from 18 different locations. Total RNA was isolated and subjected to northern blot analysis. The membrane was hybridized with a (32)P-labeled rat P450 2C12 gene-specific oligonucleotide probe. After the hybridized P450 2C12 gene-specific probe had been washed out, the membrane was hybridized again with a rat oligonucleotide probe for the detection of actin mRNA expression. In comparison with actin mRNA expression, P450 2C12 mRNA was not evenly expressed throughout the 18 different locations in the liver. The present results show the heterogeneous expression of P450 2C12 mRNA in the rat liver.