Characterization of rat sodium channels in neuroendocrine cells using region-specific antibodies

Using two anti-peptide antibodies, which recognized a conserved region with in subtypes of alpha-subunit of rat sodium channel and a relatively diverge nt sequence specific to subtype II (R-II), rat sodium channels in neuroendo crine cells were examined. Rat adrenal medulla was stained by both antisera ; RY 137, which was raised against peptide corresponding to well-conserved region of alpha-subunit between domain 4 segment 5 (D4S5) and D4S6, stained the nucleus of medulla cells, while RY 143, which was raised against R-II- specific region between D1S6 and D2S1, stained the cellular membrane. Antis era inhibited the cell burst response of mouse neuroblastoma cell line, Neu ro-2a, against the combination treatment with ouabain, veratridine and brev etoxin PbTx-1. These results indicate clearly the region-specific antibodie s produced in the present study were useful for detection and characterizat ion of sodium channels in rats.