title: Molecular basis underlying GABA(A) responses in rat mesencephalic trigeminal neurons.
abstract: We studied the molecular basis of GABA(A) receptor (GABA(A)R) expressed in the rat mesencephalic trigeminal (Vmes) sensory neuron using the immunohistochemical and single-cell RT-PCR methods. Using anti-GABA(A)R alpha2 subunit antibody, abundant GABA(A)Rs were visualized in Vmes neurons. A single-cell RT-PCR clarified that GABA(A)Rs expressed in Vmes neurons were predominantly composed of alpha2, alpha5, beta1, gamma1 and gamma2 subunits. Novel splicing variants in both alpha5 and beta1 were found invariably, and they lacked multiple amino acid sequence in the extracellular N-terminal portion. Known functional roles of both beta and gamma subunits in regulating the expression at the cell surface suggest that the unique subunit composition of GABA(A)Rs may be involved in the characteristics of GABA(A) response in Vmes neurons.
authors.affiliation: Division of Brain Research, Research institute of Health Sciences, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Youngnam Kang Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, 1757 Kanazawa, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido 061-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisayoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Youngnam
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000235:genetics; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics*; D014278:Trigeminal Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A