title: Single-cell analysis of sodium channel expression in dorsal root ganglion neurons.
abstract: Sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) express multiple voltage-gated sodium (Na) channels that substantially differ in gating kinetics and pharmacology. Small-diameter (<25 μm) neurons isolated from the rat DRG express a combination of fast tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) and slow TTX-resistant (TTX-R) Na currents while large-diameter neurons (>30 μm) predominately express fast TTX-S Na current. Na channel expression was further investigated using single-cell RT-PCR to measure the transcripts present in individually harvested DRG neurons. Consistent with cellular electrophysiology, the small neurons expressed transcripts encoding for both TTX-S (Nav1.1, Nav1.2, Nav1.6, and Nav1.7) and TTX-R (Nav1.8 and Nav1.9) Na channels. Nav1.7, Nav1.8 and Nav1.9 were the predominant Na channels expressed in the small neurons. The large neurons highly expressed TTX-S isoforms (Nav1.1, Nav1.6, and Nav1.7) while TTX-R channels were present at comparatively low levels. A unique subpopulation of the large neurons was identified that expressed TTX-R Na current and high levels of Nav1.8 transcript. DRG neurons also displayed substantial differences in the expression of neurofilaments (NF200, peripherin) and Necl-1, a neuronal adhesion molecule involved in myelination. The preferential expression of NF200 and Necl-1 suggests that large-diameter neurons give rise to thick myelinated axons. Small-diameter neurons expressed peripherin, but reduced levels of NF200 and Necl-1, a pattern more consistent with thin unmyelinated axons. Single-cell analysis of Na channel transcripts indicates that TTX-S and TTX-R Na channels are differentially expressed in large myelinated (Nav1.1, Nav1.6, and Nav1.7) and small unmyelinated (Nav1.7, Nav1.8, and Nav1.9) sensory neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, JAH 265, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Cojen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: O'Leary
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology*; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000378:metabolism; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D015222:Sodium Channels; D013779:Tetrodotoxin
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