title: Glutaminergic and adrenergic receptors expressed on adult guinea pig Schwann cells in vitro.
abstract: We have investigated the responsiveness of adult guinea pig Schwann cells to a range of neuroligands, using ratiometric calcium imaging. The majority of cells responded to ATP (90 +/- 4%), adrenaline (57 +/- 5%), and noradrenaline (61 +/- 5%), as well as glutamate (60 +/- 5%). The number of cells responding to glutamate increased significantly (90 +/- 4%; p < 0.01) when the cells were grown in excitatory amino acid (EAA) free medium, indicating EAA-induced downregulation. Only a small number of cells (9 +/- 2%) responded to acetylcholine. Agonist and antagonist experiments show that these adult Schwann cells predominantly express ionotropic glutaminergic receptors (N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isooxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), and kainate) as well as alpha1-, alpha2-, and beta-adrenoreceptors. We conclude that Schwann cells derived from adult guinea pigs express a variety of neuroligand receptors when established in culture and are particularly rich in glutamate receptors. This probably reflects a de-differentiated state important to development and regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Institute for Biomedical Research, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ansselin
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000032:analysis*; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000032:analysis*; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine