Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes in rat superior cervical ganglion neurons as studied by sequential application of two alpha-subunit-specific antibodies.
All cultured neurons of rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) were stained with nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) alpha5- or alpha7-subunit-specific oligoclonal antibodies (Abs) and could additionally bind alpha3-subunit-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb). About 60% of the neurons were stained with alpha4-specific Ab and could not bind alpha3-specific mAb. The acetylcholine-induced membrane currents recorded with the whole-cell patch clamp method and partially blocked with alpha3-specific mAbs, could be additionally blocked with alpha5- and alpha7- specific Abs, and vice versa. The results suggest that: (1) each neuron of rat SCG expresses several nAChR subtypes with different alpha-subunits; (2) the alpha3-, alpha5- and alpha7-subunit-containing nAChRs are probably located far enough from each other thus enabling joint binding to the cell of the corresponding alpha-subunit specific Abs, in contrast to the alpha4-subunit-containing nAChRs which are probably located too close to the alpha3-containing ones to allow their joint binding.
Voitenko
L P
LP
Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 4, Bogomoletz str., 01024 Kiev, Ukraine.
Voitenko
S V
SV
Skok
M V
MV
Purnyn
H E
HE
Skok
V I
VI
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
D000109:Acetylcholine; D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; C579165:Chrna7 protein, rat