title: Distribution of P2X receptors on astrocytes in juvenile rat hippocampus.
abstract: Recent evidence suggested that ATP acting via ionotropic (P2X) and metabotropic (P2Y) purinergic receptors might be involved in signaling between glial cells and within glial-neuronal networks. In contrast to their neuronal counterpart, the identity of P2X receptors in CNS glial cells is largely unknown. In the present study, antibodies recognizing the subunits P2X1-P2X7 were applied together with the astroglial marker S100beta and nuclear labeling with Hoechst 33342 to investigate semiquantitatively the distribution of the whole set of P2X receptors in astrocytes of the juvenile rat hippocampus. Expression of P2X1-P2X4, P2X6, and P2X7 subunits was observed in astrocytes of various hippocampal subregions, but the cells were completely devoid of P2X5 protein. S100beta-positive cells expressing subunits P2X3-P2X7 occurred evenly in the different subfields, while P2X1- and P2X2-positive astrocytes were distributed more heterogeneously. The staining pattern of P2X subunits also differed at the subcellular level. Antibodies against P2X2 and P2X4 labeled both astroglial cell bodies and processes. Immunoreactivity for P2X1 and P2X6 was mainly confined to somatic areas of S100beta-positive cells, whereas the subunit P2X3 was primarily localized along astroglial processes. Knowledge of the distribution of P2X receptors might provide a basis for a better understanding of their specific role in cell-cell signaling.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Neurobiology, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kukley
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barden
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steinhäuser
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jabs
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology*; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000502:physiology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058469:Receptors, Purinergic P2X; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C017807:bisbenzimide ethoxide trihydrochloride