DBcAMP effect on the expression of GFAP and of its encoding mRNA in astroglial primary cultures

Short term and chronic dBcAMP effects on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in astroglial primary cultures are investigated. Short (48 h) and long (more than 7 days) treatments with the cAMP derivative induce both cell shape changes and an increase in GFAP immunolabelling. Such effects are only associated with an increase in GFAP and in GFAP-mRNA levels in the long term treatment. These results suggest that the short term effect of dBcAMP induces post-translational modifications of the protein whereas the long term effect is associated with an increase in GFAP mRNA transcription and/or stability.