title: Rat Schwann cells express M1-M4 muscarinic receptor subtypes.
abstract: The expression of different muscarinic receptor subtypes was analyzed in immature Schwann cells obtained from sciatic nerve of 2-day neonatal rats. By using RT-PCR analysis, we demonstrated the presence of M1, M2, M3, and M4 receptor subtypes in cultured Schwann cells, with M2 displaying the highest expression levels. Muscarinic subtypes were also quantified by immunoprecipitation and [3H]QNB binding. With this approach, we found the levels of receptor expression to be M2 > M3 > M1. M4 is expressed at very low levels, and M5 receptor was not detectable. Moreover, we also demonstrated that stimulation of the receptors by muscarinic agonists activates previously described signal transduction pathways, leading to a decrease of cAMP and an increase of IP3 levels not associated with an efficient intracellular Ca2+ release. The presence and activity of particular muscarinic receptors in immature Schwann cells suggest that ACh may play an important role in Schwann cell development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loreti
authors.forename: M Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Vilaró
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Visentin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Allan I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Levey
authors.forename: Ada Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tata
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015152:Blotting, Northern / Q000379:methods; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D047468:Immunoprecipitation / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D005576:Colforsin; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D002118:Calcium