Abstract
In this paper, we tested whether physiological activators of the cAMP second messenger pathway in primary cultures of neurons from rat cerebral cortex directly induce c-fos and other immediate early gene (IEG) transcription factors. We have found that brief (30 s to 2 min) stimulation of neurons with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and SKF-38393, a D1-dopaminergic receptor agonist, potently increased mRNA levels for the IEGs c-fos, jun-B, and NGFI-A, with weaker increases for c-jun. This action was mimicked by forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP. IEG induction by VIP and dibutyryl cAMP was not blocked by excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists or by blockers of dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channels. Moreover, calcium-free medium did not modify IEG induction by dibutyryl cAMP, suggesting that cAMP can directly regulate IEG expression in differentiated neurons independently of calcium.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine / pharmacology
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Bucladesine / pharmacology*
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Cells, Cultured
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Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
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Colforsin / pharmacology*
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Cyclic AMP / physiology*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
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Dopamine Agents / pharmacology
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Early Growth Response Protein 1
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Ergolines / pharmacology
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Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
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Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
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Genes, fos
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Genes, jun
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Glutamates / pharmacology
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Glutamic Acid
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Immediate-Early Proteins*
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Immunohistochemistry
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Kinetics
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Neuroglia / metabolism
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Quinpirole
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RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis*
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Rats
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Second Messenger Systems
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Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
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Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / pharmacology
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Dopamine Agents
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Early Growth Response Protein 1
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Egr1 protein, rat
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Ergolines
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Glutamates
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Immediate-Early Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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Transcription Factors
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Colforsin
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Quinpirole
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Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
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Glutamic Acid
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Bucladesine
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2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine
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Cyclic AMP