title: Expression of P2X(2) and P2X          (3) receptors in the rat carotid sinus, aortic arch, vena cava, and heart, as well as petrosal and nodose ganglia.
abstract: With single- and double-labeling immunofluorescence techniques, the distribution patterns and morphological characteristics of P2X(2)- and P2X(3)-immunoreactive nerve fiber terminals and neuronal bodies have been studied in the main circulatory system baroreceptors and the nodose and petrosal ganglia of rats. A high density of P2X(2)- and P2X(3)-immunoreactive nerve fiber terminals was detected in the carotid sinus. P2X(2)- and P2X(3)-immunoreactive nerve fiber terminals were also distributed widely in the aortic arch, atrium, vena cava, and ventricles. Almost all the P2X(2)-immunoreactive nerve fiber terminals were immunoreactive for P2X(3) receptors. P2X(2)- and P2X(3)-immunoreactive neuronal bodies were also detected in the nodose and petrosal ganglia, which are the sources of the P2X(2)- and P2X(3)-immunoreactive nerve terminals. P2X(2) and P2X(3) receptors were expressed in the same ganglionic neurons. These data indicate that extracellular ATP, via the homomeric P2X(2) and P2X(3) receptors, and heteromeric P2X(2/3) receptor in the sensory receptors of carotid sinus, aortic arch, atrium, and vena cava, may be involved in the regulation of systematic circulation blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Ministry of Education, Neuroscience Research Centre of Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xianmin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xiaofei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Dazhi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burnstock
authors.forename: Zhenghua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiang