Spontaneous calcium spike activity in embryonic spinal neurons is regulated by developmental expression of the Na+, K+-ATPase beta3 subunit.

ABSTRACT: Different types and patterns of spontaneous electrical activity drive many aspects of neuronal differentiation. Neurons in the developing Xenopus spinal cord exhibit calcium spikes, which regulate gene transcription and neurotransmitter specification. The ionic currents necessary for spike production have been described. However, the mechanisms that generate the onset of this activity and the basis of its regulation remain unclear. Although signaling molecules appear to act on plasma membrane receptors to trigger calcium spike activity, other mechanisms for spontaneous calcium spike regulation may exist as well. Here, we analyze the developmental expression of the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase beta3 subunit in Xenopus tropicalis embryos and show that its levels are downregulated at a time during embr

SUBMITTER: Chang LW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3090545 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature