title: The expression of α2A-adrenoceptors in the calcium-binding protein immunoreactive interneurons in rat prefrontal cortex.
abstract: The α2A adrenoceptors (α2A-ARs) are the most common adrenergic receptor subtype found in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). It is generally accepted that stimulation of postsynaptic α2A-ARs on pyramidal neurons are key to PFC functions, such as working memory. However, the expression of α2A-ARs in interneurons is largely unknown. In the present study using double-labeling immunofluorencence technique, we investigated the expression of α2A-ARs in major types of rat PFC interneurons expressing calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin (PV), calretinin (CR), and calbindin (CB). Our data demonstrated that α2A-ARs are highly expressed in calcium-binding protein immunoreactive interneurons of rat PFC, suggesting that stimulation of α2A-ARs may alter neural networks comprising pyramidal neurons and interneurons, thereby exerting a beneficial effect on PFC cognitive functions. The present study provides the morphological basis for a potential mechanism by which stimulation of α2A-ARs induces cognitive improvement.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Center for Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China. xuehanzhang@fudan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiao-Ting
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Bao-Ming
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xue-Han
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064032:Calbindin 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D064026:Calbindins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D064032:Calbindin 2; D064026:Calbindins; D010320:Parvalbumins; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2