title: Localization of the ATP-sensitive K(+) channel regulatory subunits SUR2A and SUR2B in the rat brain.
abstract: ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channel subunits SUR2A and SUR2B in the rat brain were investigated by RT-PCR assay, western blot analysis, in situ hybridization histochemistry, and immunohistochemical staining. The results show that the mRNA and protein of SUR2A and SUR2B are expressed in whole rat brain extracts and selected regions. SUR2 mRNA is widely expressed in many neurons and glial cells as revealed by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Immunohistochemical staining shows SUR2A to be widely expressed in neurons of the brain, especially in the large pyramidal neurons and their main dendrites in the neocortex and in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellar cortex. In contrast to SUR2A, SUR2B is potently expressed in small cells in the corpus callosum and cerebellar white matter, but is also weakly expressed in some neurons. Double immunostaining shows SUR2B to be localized in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, while SUR2A is only localized in oligodendrocytes. These results suggest that SUR2A might be mainly a regulatory subunit of the K(ATP) channel in most neurons and part of oligodendrocytes, while SUR2B might be mainly a regulatory subunit of the K(ATP) channel in astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and some neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita 010-8543, Japan. mzhou@med.akita-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hui-Jing
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sekiguchi
authors.forename: Katsumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D064233:Sulfonylurea Receptors
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; C577512:Abcc9 protein, rat; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D064233:Sulfonylurea Receptors