Distribution of the purinegic receptors P2X(4) and P2X(6) during rat gut development.
The purinergic receptors P2X(4) and P2X(6) are ion channels activated by ATP. These receptors are present in the gastrointestinal tract, and they are involved in synaptic transmission, taste sensation, and pain, among other functions. In this work, we studied the distribution of P2X(4) and P2X(6) receptors in proximal and distal regions of the gut newborn and adult rats. Using immunohistochemistry, purinergic receptors were found in gut epithelial cells and capillary vessels. In both proximal and distal regions of newborn rats, we observed P2X(4) signal in epithelial cells, whereas P2X(6) was present in capillary vessels in the proximal region and to a lesser extent in the distal region. In both regions of adult gut, we observed P2X(4) and P2X(6) immunostain in the capillary vessels. Semi-quantification indicated a significant difference in the amount of P2X(4) between proximal regions, whereas the P2X(6) content of both newborn regions differed from that in adult proximal gut. We conclude that P2X(4) and P2X(6) purinoreceptors are present in the gut from birth and that they are differentially distributed among regions.
Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Centro Universitario, Querétaro 76010, Mexico. leguga@email.com
Guadalupe
G
García-Alcocer
Karla
K
Padilla
Angelina
A
Rodríguez
Ricardo
R
Miledi
Laura C
LC
Berumen
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000098:blood supply / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D058848:Receptors, Purinergic P2X4 / Q000378:metabolism*
D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058848:Receptors, Purinergic P2X4; C110590:purinoceptor P2X6