Biomaterial Database

Regulation of NMDA receptor subunit mRNA expression in the rat brain during postnatal development. 1994

M A Riva, and F Tascedda, and R Molteni, and G Racagni

DIBIT, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.

Different NMDA receptor subunits have been recently cloned. The present paper describes the developmental profile of expression of the NR-1 subunit and three NR-2 subunits (A, B, C) in the rat central nervous system. A sensitive RNase protection assay was employed to determine simultaneously the mRNA levels of these receptor subunits. We found low levels of NR-1 mRNA (comprising all different splicing isoforms) in newborn rats with a progressive increase of its expression in the following 2-3 weeks. NR-2 subunits can be regarded as 'modulatory' since their expression can produce differences in the properties of NMDA receptors. More than one NR-2 subunits can be expressed in the same brain region. NR-2A and NR-2C are concomitantly expressed in the cerebellum and during development their mRNAs increase with a similar profile from low levels in P-8 rats to maximal expression in P-21 animals. NR-2A and NR-2B are concomitantly expressed in several brain regions with a different ontogenetic profile. In the hippocampus NR-2B mRNA increases rapidly during the first week of life as compared to the NR-2A subunits which at this time is expressed to low levels indicating that NR-2B will probably be dominant in determining the NMDA properties during the first period of life. Our data can provide a molecular correlate with properties of NMDA receptors such as voltage dependent Mg2+ block and deactivation kinetics which undergo significant changes during development and have been shown to depend upon the NR-2 subunit co-expressed with the common NR-1 subunit in various brain regions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001481	Basal Metabolism	Metabolism (e.g., heat production) of an organism in an inactive, awake, fasting state. It may be determined directly by means of a calorimeter or indirectly by calculating the end products of oxidation within the organism or from the amount of oxygen utilized.	Metabolism, Basal,Basal Metabolic Rate,Metabolic Rate, Basal,Resting Metabolic Rate,Basal Metabolic Rates,Metabolic Rate, Resting,Rate, Basal Metabolic,Rate, Resting Metabolic,Resting Metabolic Rates
D012260	Ribonucleases	Enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds within RNA. EC 3.1.-.	Nucleases, RNA,RNase,Acid Ribonuclease,Alkaline Ribonuclease,Ribonuclease,RNA Nucleases,Ribonuclease, Acid,Ribonuclease, Alkaline
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D016194	Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate	A class of ionotropic glutamate receptors characterized by affinity for N-methyl-D-aspartate. NMDA receptors have an allosteric binding site for glycine which must be occupied for the channel to open efficiently and a site within the channel itself to which magnesium ions bind in a voltage-dependent manner. The positive voltage dependence of channel conductance and the high permeability of the conducting channel to calcium ions (as well as to monovalent cations) are important in excitotoxicity and neuronal plasticity.	N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor,N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors,NMDA Receptor,NMDA Receptor-Ionophore Complex,NMDA Receptors,Receptors, NMDA,N-Methylaspartate Receptors,Receptors, N-Methylaspartate,N Methyl D Aspartate Receptor,N Methyl D Aspartate Receptors,N Methylaspartate Receptors,NMDA Receptor Ionophore Complex,Receptor, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate,Receptor, NMDA,Receptors, N Methyl D Aspartate,Receptors, N Methylaspartate
D017207	Rats, Sprague-Dawley	A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company.	Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats
D051381	Rats	The common name for the genus Rattus.	Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus