title: Expression of cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in the rat medial vestibular nucleus.
abstract: The role of cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels in sensory signal transduction in retinal and olfactory cells is widely recognized, but there is increasing evidence that they also play more general functions in the central nervous system as downstream effectors of cyclic nucleotides. Here, we demonstrate the expression of the alpha-subunit of rod- and olfactory-type CNG channels (CNG1 and CNG2, respectively) in the rat medial vestibular nucleus (MVN). Nested polymerase chain reaction revealed CNG channel mRNA in the MVN, and CNG1 and CNG2 proteins were also detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Finally, electrophysiological evidence is provided suggesting that CNG channels play a functional role in the MVN.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Physiology, Medical School, Catholic University S. Cuore, Largo F. Vito 1, I-00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Podda
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Marcocci
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Del Carlo
authors.forename: Anna T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Palamara
authors.forename: Gian Battista
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Azzena
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grassi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D015870:Gene Expression; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger