Mu opioid receptor: expression and vagotomy-induced depletion of the mRNA in medullary preganglionic neurons.
By in situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labeled RNA probes, distinct expression of mu opioid receptor mRNA was found in rat medullary preganglionic neurons for vagal parasympathetic outflow. Two days or more following unilateral vagotomy, the expression was almost completely abolished on the operated side. The results, taken together with previous findings indicating proximodistal axonal transport of radioligand-labeled opioid receptors, suggest that the medullary preganglionic neurons thus identified are the source for mu opioid receptor acting in cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal tissues.
Houtani
T
T
Department of Anatomy, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Ueyama
T
T
Takeshima
H
H
Kato
S
S
Fukuda
K
K
Mori
K
K
Sugimoto
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D007839:Functional Laterality; D015870:Gene Expression; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014628:Vagotomy; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu