Regulation by CDF/LIF and retinoic acid of multiple ChAT mRNAs produced from distinct promoters.

The cholinergic differentiation factor/leukaemia inhibitory factor (CDF/LIF) and retinoic acid (RA) induce in sympathetic neurones, a switch from the noradrenergic to the cholinergic neurotransmitter phenotype. In particular, these molecules alter the activities of the biosynthetic enzymes choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH). Recently, five rat ChAT mRNA species have been identified although no data have yet been reported concerning their production and regulation in sympathetic neurones. By use of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique we analysed the effects of CDF/LIF and RA on the levels of ChAT, TH and DBH mRNAs. Each ChAT mRNA was produced in sympathetic neurones and was induced by both molecules, whereas the mRNAs encoding TH and DBH enzymes were down-regulated.