High basal expression of zif268 in cortex is dependent on intact noradrenergic system.

The transcription factor Zif268 displays high basal levels of expression in cortex that appear to be dependent on physiological synaptic activity. We report that selective lesions of the noradrenergic system induced by DSP4 markedly suppress basal zif268 mRNA levels in cortex. Accordingly, the noradrenergic system which projects extensively to the cortex and is tonically active may play a key role in maintaining normal patterns of gene expression in target neurons.