Beta-adrenergic receptor regulation of NGF-mRNA content in rat C6-2B glioma cells

In C6-2B astrocytoma cells the Beta NGF content and secretion rate are increased by isoproterenol activation of beta-adrenergic receptors (Schwartz and Costa, 1977). Utilizing poly (A+) RNA hybridization analysis with a cRNA probe for mouse Beta NGF it was found that isoproterenol activation of C6-2B cells produces also a 4 fold increase of the content of messenger RNA encoding Beta NGF. This increase is specifically antagonized by 1-propanolol, but not by phentolamine. Furthermore, addition of dibutyryl-cAMP induces an increase of Beta NGF mRNA content similar to that obtained with isoproterenol. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that regulation of Beta NGF synthesis in neuroglial cells may be modulated by beta-adrenergic receptor activation.