title: Localization of P2X7 receptor immunoreactivity in the dorsal root ganglia of guinea pig.
abstract: The P2X7 receptor mRNA and proteins in guinea-pig dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were studied by using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The co-localization of P2X7 receptor with four cytochemical markers, the neurofilament protein NF200, S100, substance P and isolectin B4 (IB4) binding glyco-conjugates, were also examined. It was found that P2X7 receptor immunoreactivity (P2X7 R-IR) was present mostly in large- and medium-sized DRG neurons (62% +/- 9% and 36% +/- 6% respectively in all P2X7 R-IR neurons). All the P2X7R-IR neurons were also NF200 and S100 immunopositive. However, in a small number of NF200 or S100 immunopositive neurons no P2X7R-IR was detectable. All the IB4-positive or substance P-immunopositive neurons had no P2X7R-IR. These results demonstrate that P2X7 receptors are expressed in a large subpopulation of DRG neurons and they may play a role in the transduction of specific peripheral sensory signals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangfan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Xiangfan 441021, China.
authors.forename: Xuegong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Zhenghua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000032:analysis*; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D053675:Versicans
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D037102:Lectins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; C546470:P2rx7 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058486:Receptors, Purinergic P2X7; C508324:Vcan protein, rat; C051774:neurofilament protein H; D053675:Versicans; D013373:Substance P