[Expression of alpha7-nAChR on rat hippocampal astrocytes in vivo and in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of alpha7-nAChR on rat hippocampal astrocytes in vivo and in vitro.


METHODS
Rat hippocampus was isolated and cut into 30-microm cryosections with anti-GFAP antibody staining followed by staining for alpha7-nAChR. The cultured astrocytes obtained from newborn rat (1-2 days old) hippocampus were identified with GFAP, and the expression of alpha7-nAChR was measured by fluorescein isothcyanate-tagged alpha-bungarotoxin staining analysis and double immunolabeling.


RESULTS
The localization of alpha7-nAChR was visualized in green with fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled IgG, whereas that of GFAP in red with Texas red-labeled IgG in the hippocampal slices, and the yellow spots indicating colocalization of the two fluorescent probes was shown in a merging image. alpha-bungarotoxin-binding nicotinic receptors were clustered, and the colocalization of alpha7-nAChR and GFAP on the cultured hippocampal astrocytes was visualized with the two fluorescent probes.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of alpha7-nAChR is identified on hippocampal astrocytes in vivo and in vitro.
Wang
Yan
Y
Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China.
Zhang
Zhong-yi
ZY
Wang
Yong
Y
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
C579165:Chrna7 protein, rat; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor