Over-expression of MBP and PLP messenger RNA in 8-day-old trembler brain.

The trembler mouse suffers from a dominantly inherited mutation of the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP-22) gene which results in abnormal myelination of the peripheral nervous system. However, the clinical symptoms observed in the mutant suggest abnormalities in the central nervous system. Using the Northern blot technique, we investigated the steady-state levels of mRNA encoding myelin protein genes in 8-day-old normal and trembler brains. We measured a two- to four-fold increase for myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein (PLP) mRNAS in the trembler samples. Whether a relationship exists between this observation and the onset of the clinical symptoms is still to be determined.