TY - JOUR
T1 - Multiple nicotinic acetylcholine receptora α-subunits are expressed in the arterial system of the rat
AU - Brüggmann, Dörthe
AU - Lips, Katrin S.
AU - Pfeil, Uwe
AU - Haberberger, Rainer V.
AU - Kummer, Wolfgang
PY - 2002/12
Y1 - 2002/12
N2 - Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are hetero- and homopentamers built up by nine different α-subunits and three different α-subunits. The subtype composition within the receptor determines ligand specificity, affinity and cation permeability. In this study we focused on the distribution of the ligand binding α-subunits in the rat arterial system by means of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Subtypes α3, α5, α7 and α10 were found to be expressed by endothelial cells, suggesting that they are equipped both with calcium-preferring (α7 homopentamers) and monovalent cation-preferring (heteropentamers containing α3- and α5-subunits) nAChR channels. All α-subtypes except α9 were expressed by vascular smooth muscle cells with a highly specific distribution pattern along the vascular tree. While every α-subunit except α9 was detected in the thoracic aorta, intrapulmonary arterial branches contained only α7 immunoreactivity, and other vascular beds held intermediate positions with respect to the extent of α-subunit expression. Current knowledge does not allow to correlate these distribution patterns to specific functions, but it can be anticipated that at least some components of nAChR-mediated signalling in the arterial wall are highly specific for individual arteries.
AB - Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are hetero- and homopentamers built up by nine different α-subunits and three different α-subunits. The subtype composition within the receptor determines ligand specificity, affinity and cation permeability. In this study we focused on the distribution of the ligand binding α-subunits in the rat arterial system by means of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Subtypes α3, α5, α7 and α10 were found to be expressed by endothelial cells, suggesting that they are equipped both with calcium-preferring (α7 homopentamers) and monovalent cation-preferring (heteropentamers containing α3- and α5-subunits) nAChR channels. All α-subtypes except α9 were expressed by vascular smooth muscle cells with a highly specific distribution pattern along the vascular tree. While every α-subunit except α9 was detected in the thoracic aorta, intrapulmonary arterial branches contained only α7 immunoreactivity, and other vascular beds held intermediate positions with respect to the extent of α-subunit expression. Current knowledge does not allow to correlate these distribution patterns to specific functions, but it can be anticipated that at least some components of nAChR-mediated signalling in the arterial wall are highly specific for individual arteries.
KW - Endothelial cell
KW - Immunohistochemistry
KW - Vascular smooth muscle cell
KW - Vessels
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036460327&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00418-002-0475-2
DO - 10.1007/s00418-002-0475-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 12483309
AN - SCOPUS:0036460327
VL - 118
SP - 441
EP - 447
JO - Histochemistry and Cell Biology
JF - Histochemistry and Cell Biology
SN - 0948-6143
IS - 6
ER -