Rat embryonic hippocampal neurons express a new class A calcium channel variant

The aim of this study was to investigate, using a RT-PCR strategy, rat volt age-gated class A calcium channel (alpha(1A)) splice variants during rat hi ppocampus development. Results demonstrate the presence of multiple alpha(1 A) mRNAs with the hippocampus formation and revealed a new variant of the r at alpha(1A) subunit (alpha(1A-EFe)) that diverges from alpha(1A-a) in the EF-hand domain. alpha(1A-EFe) expression in hippocampal neurons is restrict ed to the embryonic period. This in vivo developmental program is recapitul ated in dissociated cultures of E17 embryonic hippocampal neurons. These da ta demonstrate that rat hippocampus neurons express a unique alpha(1A) spli ce variant during the embryonic period and suggest that alternative RNA spl icing may modulate neuronal calcium channel properties during development. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.