Regulation of Na+ channel beta 1 and beta 2 subunit mRNA levels in cultured rat astrocytes.

Using quantitative competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we found an increased level of Na+ channel beta 1 (Na beta 1) mRNAs in spinal cord astrocytes and in the B50 neuroblastoma cell line after exposure to 1 mM dibutyryl cAMP. In contrast, the calcium ionophore (1 microM A23187) did not affect Na beta 1 mRNA levels in these cells. Further, we amplified full length coding region of Na+ channel beta 2 (Na beta 2) mRNA from rat optic nerve and cultured astrocytes using RT-PCR. It appeared that the Na beta 2 mRNA level was increased by dibutyryl cAMP, but not by A23187, in spinal cord astrocytes. These findings suggest that the Na beta 1 and Na beta 2 mRNA levels in spinal cord astrocytes are influenced by increased cAMP but not by calcium.