title: Predominant expression of platelet-activating factor receptor in the rat brain microglia.
abstract: Cellular localization of platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor in the rat brain was determined by (1) in situ hybridization, (2) Northern blot analysis in primary cell cultures of neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and fibroblasts, and (3) Ca2+ imaging in hippocampal culture. In situ hybridization revealed that the PAF receptor mRNA is expressed intensely in microglia and moderately in neurons. Northern blot analysis revealed that PAF receptor mRNA is the most abundant in microglia. In primary hippocampal cultures, PAF elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration in microglia and also in neurons, but to a lesser extent. These results suggest predominant presence of PAF receptor in microglia. Cultured microglia also expressed cPLA2 mRNA the most intensely. PAF-activated microglia released arachidonic acid in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner and without conversion to its derivatives. We propose that microglia as well as neurons contribute to PAF-related events in the CNS by releasing arachidonic acid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kume
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamanoue
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohsaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000235:genetics; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; C039351:platelet activating factor receptor; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D010741:Phospholipases A; D002118:Calcium