Immunohistochemical identification of cells expressing ATP-gated cation channels (P2X receptors) in the adult rat thyroid.
We carried out immunohistochemistry and western blotting of fresh frozen sections and crude extracts from adult rat thyroids. The histochemical and immunoblotting studies were performed with P2X receptor antibodies from 2 different sources. P2X-immunopositive cells were identified by fluorescence double labelling and confocal microscopy. Results of the western blotting experiments showed double bands of approximately 70 kDa and 140 kDa for all 7 P2X receptor subtypes with both sets of antibodies. Histochemical stains with antibodies from both sources also gave essentially identical results. P2X1, P2X, and P2X6 receptors were detected exclusively in vascular smooth muscle; P2X5 and P2X7 receptors were also present on vascular smooth muscle. Endothelial cells stained for P2X3, P2X4 and P2X7 receptors. Thyroid follicular cells displayed immunoreactivity for P2X3, P2X4 and P2X5 receptors. No immunostaining for P2X receptors was observed on C-cells. Possible roles for the broad expression of P2X receptor subtypes in the rat thyroid are discussed.
Glass
R
R
Autonomic Neuroscience Institute, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK.
Burnstock
G
G
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D005629:Frozen Sections; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000032:analysis*; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X; D058476:Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; D058848:Receptors, Purinergic P2X4; D058485:Receptors, Purinergic P2X5; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology
C546403:P2rx2 protein, rat; C546410:P2rx3 protein, rat; C548228:P2rx4 protein, rat; C546467:P2rx5 protein, rat; C546470:P2rx7 protein, rat; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X; D058476:Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; D058848:Receptors, Purinergic P2X4; D058485:Receptors, Purinergic P2X5; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; C110590:purinoceptor P2X6