Heterogeneous expression of the voltage-gated calcium channel alpha2 subunit and the voltage-gated sodium channel alpha subunit in chicken spinal motoneurons.
The localization of the voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) alpha2 and the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) alpha subunits was immunohistochemically investigated in chicken spinal motoneurons. Approximately 83% and 46% of spinal motoneurons were positive for VGCCalpha2 and VGSCalpha subunits, respectively. Almost all VGSCalpha subunit-positive motoneurons exhibited the VGCCalpha2 subunit immunoreactivity. There were different patterns in occurrence, intensity or nuclear/cytoplasmic stainability of the VGCCalpha2 and VGSCalpha subunits among the motoneurons. This study presents the first cellular morphological evidence for the VGCCalpha2 and VGSCalpha subunits in spinal motoneurons, postulating that the heterogeneous expression of VGCCalpha2 and VGSCalpha subunits in the motoneurons may reflect various motor activities.
Li
Yong-Nan
YN
Department of Neurology, Xi-Jing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Li
Yan-Chao
YC
Kuramoto
Hirofumi
H
Sakamoto
Hiroshi
H
Kawate
Toyoko
T
Yang
Zi-Chao
ZC
Huang
Yuan-Gui
YG
D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D021122:Protein Subunits; D015222:Sodium Channels