Competitive RT-PCR for studying gene expression in micro biopsies.

The technique of RT-PCR has become a powerful method for studying gene expression in various species and tissues. Here we present a competitive PCR for quantitative measurement of absolute levels of mRNA molecules for the regulatory alpha 2/delta subunit of the high-voltage-activated dihydropyridine sensitive human cardiac L-type calcium channel. With the method described the dynamic process of cardiac gene expression can be studied in human endomyocardial biopsies in different patient collectives and even in the individual.