Expression of substance P receptor in the substantia nigra.
Since the substantia nigra receives abundant substance P innervations but lacks clear evidences about a presence of substance P receptors, expressions for mRNA and protein of substance P receptors were investigated in the rat to resolve this mismatch. Expression levels of substance P receptors mRNA in the substantia nigra pars compacta and reticulata were 37.7 and 24.1% of those in the striatum, respectively, by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Substance P receptors mRNA was found in dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta by single cell RT-PCR. Ca. 90% of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta were immunoreactive to anti-substance P receptor antibody in the colchicine treated rats. These are the first direct evidence for the existence of substance P receptors in dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta.
Futami
T
T
Laboratory for Neural Architecture, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-Shi, Saitama 351-01, Japan. futamit@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Hatanaka
Y
Y
Matsushita
K
K
Furuya
S
S
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003078:Colchicine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis
D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D012313:RNA; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D003078:Colchicine; D004298:Dopamine