Upregulation of the pro-opiomelanocortin gene in motoneurones after acrylamide administration in mice.

Immunocytochemistry was used to demonstrate the presence of beta-endorphin and alpha-MSH, and in situ hybridisation was used to study the presence of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA, in spinal motoneurones, up to 8 days following the administration of a single dose of acrylamide in mice. The proportions of POMC-mRNA positive neurones, beta-endorphin-immunoreactive neurones and alpha-MSH-immunoreactive neurones were significantly increased in the treated animals compared to controls. It seems likely that upregulation of the POMC gene precedes acrylamide-induced neuropathy.