Expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha9 in type II vestibular hair cells of rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the cell specific existence of alpha 9 AChR in the vestibular type II hair cells (VHC II) of rats.


METHODS
To detect the expression of alpha 9 AChR messenger RNA (mRNA) in the vestibular endorgans and single VHC II of rats by using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique and the single cell RT-PCR technique, respectively.


RESULTS
It was shown that alpha 9 AChR mRNA was detected in the vestibular endorgans. By using single-cell RT-PCR, mRNA encoding alpha 9 AChR was also detected in the VHC II of the rats. Sequence analysis of the PCR products confirmed identity to corresponding cDNA sequence in the predicted region.


CONCLUSIONS
We established a method which could effectively detect the cell specific expression of mRNA in an individual VHC. Present data confirm that alpha 9 AChR mRNA is expressed in the VHC II of rats and indicates that alpha 9 AChR may function as a mediator of efferent cholinergic signaling in mammalian VHC.
Kong
Wei-jia
WJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong Science and Technology University, Wuhan 430030, China. wjkong888@yahoo.com
Cheng
Hua-mao
HM
van Cauwenberge
Paul
P
D000818:Animals; D018069:Hair Cells, Vestibular / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; C443079:nAChR alpha9