title: Pathway-specific expression of PKC and PKA in sympathetic neurons.
abstract: We used multiple-labelling immunofluorescence, intracellular dye injection, electrophysiological recording and confocal microscopy to examine the expression of immunoreactivity to protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase A (PKA) in sympathetic ganglia of guinea-pigs. PKCalpha and PKCgamma were widespread in vasoconstrictor and pilomotor neurons. High levels of PKA RIIalpha and RIIbeta were restricted to neurons that lacked significant expression of PKC, including somatostatin-containing neurons projecting to the gut, and non-noradrenergic vasodilator neurons. In coeliac ganglia, most neurons with PKC contained neuropeptide Y and displayed phasic patterns of action potential firing, often with a long after-hyperpolarization. Tonically firing neurons lacked both neuropeptide Y and PKC. These results show remarkably pathway-specific expression of protein kinases in functionally identified populations of sympathetic neurons.
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007422:Intestines / Q000294:innervation; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism*; D051571:Protein Kinase C-alpha; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology