title: Distribution of the voltage-gated sodium channel Na(v)1.7 in the rat: expression in the autonomic and endocrine systems.
abstract: It is generally accepted that the voltage-gated, tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium channel, Na(V)1.7, is selectively expressed in peripheral ganglia. However, global deletion in mice of Na(V)1.7 leads to death shortly after birth (Nassar et al. [2004] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 101:12706-12711), suggesting that this ion channel might be more widely expressed. To understand better the potential physiological function of this ion channel, we examined Na(V)1.7 expression in the rat by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. As expected, highest mRNA expression levels are found in peripheral ganglia, and the protein is expressed within these ganglion cells and on the projections of these neurons in the central nervous system. Importantly, we found that Na(V)1.7 is present in discrete rat brain regions, and the unique distribution pattern implies a central involvement in endocrine and autonomic systems as well as analgesia. In addition, Na(V)1.7 expression was detected in the pituitary and adrenal glands. These results indicate that Na(V)1.7 is not only involved in the processing of sensory information but also participates in the regulation of autonomic and endocrine systems; more specifically, it could be implicated in such vital functions as fluid homeostasis and cardiovascular control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Sciences, AstraZeneca R&D Montreal, Ville-St-Laurent, Quebec, H4S 1Z9, Canada.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morinville
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fundin
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meury
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juréus
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krupp
authors.forename: Sultan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Dajan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D062556:NAV1.7 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D062556:NAV1.7 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C503480:Scn9a protein, rat; D015222:Sodium Channels