title: P2X(2), P2X(2-2) and P2X(5) receptor subunit expression and function in rat thoracolumbar sympathetic neurons.
abstract: The present study investigated the pharmacological properties of excitatory P2X receptors and P2X(2) and P2X(5) receptor subunit expression in rat-cultured thoracolumbar sympathetic neurons. In patch-clamp recordings, ATP (3-1000 microM; applied for 1 s) induced inward currents in a concentration-dependent manner. Pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate (PPADS; 30 microM) counteracted the ATP response. In contrast to ATP, alpha,beta-meATP (30 microM; for 1 s) was virtually ineffective. Prolonged application of ATP (100 microM; 10 s) induced receptor desensitization in a significant proportion of sympathetic neurons in a manner typical for P2X(2-2) splice variant-mediated responses. Using single-cell RT-PCR, P2X(2), P2X(2-2) and P2X(5) mRNA expression was detectable in individual tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons; coexpression of both P2X(2) isoforms was not observed. Laser scanning microscopy revealed both P2X(2) and P2X(5) immunoreactivity in virtually every TH-positive neuron. P2X(2) immunoreactivity was largely distributed over the cell body, whereas P2X(5) immunoreactivity was most distinctly located close to the nucleus. In summary, the present study demonstrates the expression of P2X(2), P2X(2-2) and P2X(5) receptor subunits in rat thoracolumbar neurons. The functional data in conjunction with a preferential membranous localization of P2X(2)/P2X(2-2) compared with P2X(5) suggest that the excitatory P2X responses are mediated by P2X(2) and P2X(2-2) receptors. Apparently there exist two types of P2X(2) receptor-bearing sympathetic neurons: one major population expressing the unspliced isoform and another minor population expressing the P2X(2-2) splice variant.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf-Boehm-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schädlich
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wirkner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grosche
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burnstock
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reichenbach
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Illes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allgaier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D058476:Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; D058485:Receptors, Purinergic P2X5; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C546403:P2rx2 protein, rat; C546467:P2rx5 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058476:Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; D058485:Receptors, Purinergic P2X5; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase