title: Substance K (NKA) increases tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA in cultured substantia nigra.
abstract: Cultured explants of the mouse substantia nigra were used to analyze mechanisms underlying the depolarization-induced increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity. Steady-state levels of messenger RNA encoding tyrosine hydroxylase were detected using an antisense riboprobe in an RNase protection assay. Explants exposed to the depolarizing agent, veratridine, exhibited an approximate 2-fold increase in tyrosine hydroxylase messenger RNA. Moreover, the native presynaptic excitatory agonist substance K also elicited a significant increase in tyrosine hydroxylase message. We conclude that depolarizing influences induce tyrosine hydroxylase in the cultured substantia nigra in association with an elevation of enzyme messenger RNA.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005796:Genes; D051379:Mice; D015288:Neurokinin A; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000201:enzymology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015288:Neurokinin A; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic