Summary
The distribution of mRNA expression for three types of voltage gated neuronal sodium-channels was studied in the rat brain at different developmental stages (embryonal day E18, postnatal day P5 and adult). With the in-situ hybridization technique, using synthetic DNA-oligomer probes, pronounced regional and temporal variations in the expression levels of the different channel subtypes could be detected. In comparison with types I and III, sodium channel II mRNA was the most abundant subtype at all developmental stages. Maximal expression of sodium channel II mRNA was seen at P5 in virtually all parts of the grey matter, except for the cerebellum. In adult rat brain in contrast, sodium channel II mRNA levels were maximal in the granular layer of the cerebellum, whereas in all other regions expression had decreased to roughly 50% of postnatal levels. Na channel I expression was virtually absent at E18 and showed highest levels at P5, with maxima in the caudate nucleus and hippocampus. In the adult brain, expression of Na-channel I was nearly absent in the neocortex, but well detectable in the cerebellum and, at lower levels in the striatum and thalamus. Sodium channel III was mainly expressed at the embryonal stage and showed a decrease to very low levels with little regional preferences in the adult.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agnew WS (1984) Voltage regulated sodium channel molecules. Ann Rev Physiol 46:517–530
Auld VJ, Goldin AL, Krafte DS, Marshall J, Dunn JM, Catterall WA, Lester HA, Davidson N, Dunn RJ (1988) A rat brain Na+ channel subunit with novel gating properties. Neuron 1:449–461
Beckh S, Noda M, Lübbert H, Numa S (1989) Differential regulation of three sodium channel messenger RNAs in the rat central nervous system during development. EMBO J 8 (N12):3611–3616
Blumberg DD (1987) Equipping the laboratory. Meth Enzymol 152:3–20
Catterall WA (1984) The molecular basis of neuronal excitability. Science 223:653–661
Catterall WA (1986) Molecular properties of voltage-sensitive sodium channels. Ann Rev Biochem 55:953–985
Devereux J, Haeberli P, Smithies O (1984) A comprehensive set of sequence analysis programs for the VAX. Nucl Acids Res 12:387–395
Eschenfeldt WH, Puskas RS, Berger SL (1987) Homopolymeric tailing. Meth Enzymol 152:337–342
Gordon D, Merrick D, Auld V, Dunn R, Goldin AL, Davidson N, Catterall WA (1987) Tissue-specific expression of the RI and RII sodium channel subtypes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84:8682–8686
Hartshorne RP, Catterall WA (1984) The sodium channel from rat brain: purification and subunit composition. J Biol Chem 259:1667–1675
Kayano T, Noda M, Flockerzi V, Takahashi H, Numa S (1988) Primary structure of rat brain sodium channel III deduced from the cDNA sequence. FEBS Lett 228:187–194
Mourre C, Moll C, Lombet A, Lazdunski M (1988) Distribution of voltage-dependent Na+ channels identified by high-affinity receptors for tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin in rat and human brains: quantitative autoradiographic analysis. Brain Res 448:128–139
Noda M, Ikeda T, Kayano T, Suzuki H, Takeshima H, Kurasaki M, Takahashi H, Numa S (1986a) Existence of distinct sodium channel messenger RNAs in rat brain. Nature 320:188–192
Noda M, Ikeda T, Suzuki H, Takeshima H, Takahashi T, Kuno M, Numa S (1986b) Expression of functional sodium channels from cloned cDNA. Nature 322:826–828
Schmidt J, Rossie S, Catterall WA (1985) A large intracellular pool of inactive Na channel subunits in developing rat brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82:4847–4851
Scheinman RI, Auld VJ, Goldin AL, Davidson N, Dunn RJ, Catterall WA (1989) Developmental regulation of sodium channel expression in the rat forebrain. J Biol Chem 264 (N18): 10660–10666
Suzuki H, Beckh S, Kubo H, Yahagi N, Ishida H, Kayano T, Noda M, Numa S (1988) Functional expression of cloned cDNA encoding sodium channel III. FEBS Lett 228:195–200
Westenbroek RE, Merrick DK, Catterall WA (1989) Differential subcellular localization of the RI and RII Na+ channel subtypes in central neurons. Neuron 3:695–704
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft grant no.: Cr 30/16
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brysch, W., Creutzfeldt, O.D., Lüno, K. et al. Regional and temporal expression of sodium channel messenger RNAs in the rat brain during development. Exp Brain Res 86, 562–567 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00230529
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00230529