Transcriptional inhibition of DMPK mRNA in vitro by prilocaine. C2C12 cells were treated with prilocaine (1 μM) in the presence or absence of RNA pol II (and thus transcriptional) inhibitor amanitin (2.5 μg/mL). Total RNA was harvested at different time points (0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours) for RT–PCR. (A) Quantification of DMPK mRNA relative to β‐2‐microglobulin (the ratio of control group is set as 1) upon treatment with amanitin alone. (B) Quantification of DMPK mRNA relative to β‐2‐microglobulin (the ratio of control group is set as 1) upon treatment with prilocaine alone. (C) Quantification of DMPK mRNA relative to β‐2‐microglobulin (the ratio of control group is set as 1) upon treatment with amanitin + prilocaine. (D) Quantification of TNF mRNA relative to β‐2‐microglobulin (the ratio of control group is set as 1) upon treatment with amanitin and prilocaine. Mean ± SEM (bars) of three independent experiments are shown. *p < 0.05, t‐test.