Subcellular localization of the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor in rat cerebellar granule cell layer.
The distribution of the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor subunit in the rat cerebellum was studied immunohistochemically at the electron microscope level using an alpha 7 subunit-specific antibody. The granule cell layer showed a much lower level of immunoreactivity for the alpha 7 subunit than the Purkinje cell layer. Granule cell somata were completely devoid of labeling; this appeared to be restricted to glomeruli exclusively located in the membranes of granule cell dendrites. The alpha 7 immunolabeling was located not at active synaptic areas but was mostly perisynaptic. This localization suggests that nicotinic receptors containing the alpha 7 subunit could have a modulatory function and/or play a direct role in the generation of synaptic currents.
Caruncho
H J
HJ
University of Illinois at Chicago, Psychiatric Institute 60612, USA.
Guidotti
A
A
Lindstrom
J
J
Costa
E
E
Pesold
C
C
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000737:chemistry*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000737:chemistry*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic