[The immediate early genes expression in the PC12 cells activated by anatoxin-a]

To explore the regulative action of IEGs when the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of PC12 cells were activated by anatoxin-a.

Using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, the mRNA gene expression of c-fos, c-jun, NGFI-A and NGFI-B were measured while PC12 cells were activated by anatoxin-a.

As 10(-9), 10(-8) and 10(-7) mol/L anatoxin-a activated PC12 cells for an hour, or 10(-7) mol/ L anatoxin-a activated PC12 cells for 30 min, 60 min, 120 min, the intracellular gene expression of c-fos and NGFI-A increased significantly than the control group (P < 0.05), it was 2-6 times than the control group. And the gene expression of c-fos presented dose-response and time-effect relation. However, under the same condition, the gene expression of c-jun and NGFI-B did not show any remarkable changes.

c-fos and NGFI-A might be involved to modulation the action of anatoxin-a activating the nAChRs of PC12 cells.