title: Single-cell RT-PCR analysis of GIRK channels expressed in rat locus coeruleus and nucleus basalis neurons.
abstract: G protein-coupled inward rectifier potassium channels (GIRK, Kir3) play a crucial role in determining neuronal excitability. Currently, four mammalian GIRK members (GIRK1-4) have been genetically identified. We have been investigating physiological properties of GIRKs in cultured noradrenergic neurons from the locus coeruleus (LC) and cholinergic neurons from the nucleus basalis (NB). Yet, precise information is lacking about which types of GIRK channels are present in these neurons. We performed single-cell RT-PCR on these cultured neurons. In 13 noradrenergic LC neurons, GIRK1, GIRK2, GIRK3, and GIRK4 mRNAs existed in 12, 13, nine, and six neurons, respectively. In six cholinergic NB neurons, GIRK1, GIRK2, GIRK3, and GIRK4 mRNAs existed in six, four, one, and three neurons, respectively. Therefore, GIRK1 and GIRK2 mRNAs are most frequently encountered in both LC and NB neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology (m/c 512), University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 South Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Takeharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shigehiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakajima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; C497073:Kcnj9 protein, rat; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013004:Somatostatin