title: Distribution of alpha7 and alpha4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits in several tissues of Triturus carnifex (Amphibia, Urodela).
abstract: The distribution of neuronal and non-neuronal mRNAs for alpha7 and alpha4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits was investigated in Triturus carnifex tissues using the in situ hybridization approach. The findings reveal a composite pattern of expression only partially overlapping for the two subunits; subunit alpha7 seems to be expressed widely throughout nervous, gastrointestinal and skin tissues, while alpha4 is present in a restricted number of cells of nervous and gastrointestinal tissue. We also found a specific pattern for each subunit; alpha7 and alpha4 associated exclusively to the epidermal glands and hypophysis, respectively; this is probably due to alternative roles that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors play in regulating physiological functions of non-neuronal amphibian tissues, rather than as mere neurotransmitters in the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary and Comparative Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", 80134 Naples, Italy. valiante@unina.it
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valiante
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capaldo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Virgilio
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sciarrillo
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Falco
authors.forename: Flaminia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laforgia
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Varano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D013270:Stomach / Q000166:cytology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014319:Triturus / Q000378:metabolism*; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor