Title: Novel splice variants of the voltage-sensitive sodium channel alpha subunit.

Authors: Y Oh, S G Waxman

Journal, date & volume: Neuroreport, 1998 May 11 , 9, 1267-72

PubMed link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9631410

Abstract
In this study, we have identified novel splice variants of the Na+ channel alpha subunit mRNA from cultured rat astrocytes and neuroblastoma cells. These splice variants are characterized by premature truncation or deletion of a segment in the third domain of the Na+ channel alpha subunit. The expression of three splice variants was upregulated by exposure to 1 mM dibutyryl cAMP in spinal cord astrocytes but not in cerebral astrocytes and in B50 and B104 neuroblastoma cells. The calcium ionophore 1 microM A23187, did not influence the expression of splice variants in either astrocytes or neuroblastoma cells. These findings suggest that spinal cord astrocytes may maintain a unique regulatory pathway that participates in the control of Na+ channel mRNA expression.