Mutations in the rat myelin basic protein gene are associated with specific alterations in other myelin gene expression.

The Long Evans shaker (les) rat is a myelin basic protein (MBP) mutant that exhibits severe central nervous system (CNS) dysmyelination. We used a combination of immunohistochemistry, immunoblot and Northern blot analyses to determine the effect of MBP deficits on the expression of other CNS myelin genes in this mutant. Immunohistochemistry revealed a marked reduction in all major myelin proteins and differences in their intracellular distribution. Immunoblots confirmed the decreased expression of these proteins and indicated that relative levels of proteolipid protein (PLP) and DM20 were altered in this mutant. Quantitation of mRNA levels indicated that decreases in PLP and DM20 were a result of changes in mRNA levels but detected no change in other myelin gene transcripts.