Rat arteries contain multiple nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunits.
We investigated the occurrence and distribution of the ligand-binding alpha-subunits of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the rat arterial system in situ by means of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Except the alpha9-subunit, all other mammalian non-muscular alpha-subunits were expressed in the arterial wall--either in endothelial or in smooth muscle cells--suggesting it as a direct target of nicotine and endogenous acetylcholine. The distribution pattern of alpha-subunits found in smooth muscle cells varied considerably among the individual elastic, muscular and intraparenchymal arteries investigated, suggesting that non-neuronal cholinergic signalling via nicotinic receptors in the vascular wall includes components that are highly specific for individual arteries.
Brüggmann
Dörthe
D
Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University, Aulweg 123, 35385 Giessen, Germany.
Lips
Katrin S
KS
Pfeil
Uwe
U
Haberberger
Rainer V
RV
Kummer
Wolfgang
W
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases