title: Localization of kappa-opioid receptor mRNA in neuronal subpopulations of rat sensory ganglia and spinal cord.
abstract: A partial cDNA encoding a kappa-opioid receptor was isolated and used to generate specific 35S-labeled probes to investigate the gene expression of the kappa-opioid receptor in sensory, sympathetic and spinal neurons of the rat by in situ hybridization. A subpopulation of mainly small and medium-sized neurons within dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia expressed kappa-receptor mRNA, but no signal was detectable in the superior cervical ganglion. kappa-Receptor mRNA was distributed over neurons throughout the dorsal horn and in laminae VII/VIII. Highest concentrations of positive neurons were seen in laminae I/II, dorsal lamina X and in the lateral spinal nucleus. alpha-Motoneurons and glial cells were not labeled. This distribution of kappa-receptor mRNA indicates preferential functions of kappa-receptors in sensory signalling with particular importance to nociception.
authors.affiliation: Anatomisches Institut, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, FRG.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bette
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schwaeble
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weihe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017950:Ganglia, Sensory / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000235:genetics*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa