title: Subcellular localization of the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor in rat cerebellar granule cell layer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Illinois at Chicago, Psychiatric Institute 60612, USA.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Caruncho
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guidotti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindstrom
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pesold
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic