Premium
Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α3 subunit protein in rat brain and sympathetic ganglion measured using a subunit‐specific antibody: regional and ontogenic expression
Author(s) -
Yeh Jenny J.,
Yasuda Robert P.,
DávilaGarcía Martha I.,
Xiao Yingxian,
Ebert Steven,
Gupta Tara,
Kellar Kenneth J.,
Wolfe Barry B.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2001.00259.x
Subject(s) - superior cervical ganglion , endocrinology , protein subunit , nicotinic acetylcholine receptor , biology , medicine , nicotinic agonist , interpeduncular nucleus , acetylcholine receptor , polyclonal antibodies , cholinergic , receptor , antibody , central nervous system , biochemistry , immunology , midbrain , gene
A synthetic peptide corresponding to the C‐terminus of the α3 subunit of the rat neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) was used to generate a rabbit polyclonal α3 antibody. The specificity of this antibody was characterized by immunoblotting, immunohistochemical and immunoprecipitation techniques. Using this antibody, the relative densities of the α3 subunit were quantitatively determined in different brain regions and in superior cervical ganglion (SCG). Among these regions, SCG, interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) and pineal gland showed the highest levels of α3 protein expression. Habenula and superior colliculi had intermediate levels of expression. Low levels were found in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. The ontogenic profile of the α3 subunit in the SCG was also determined. The α3 protein level is low at postnatal day (P 1), but increases rapidly during the first seven postnatal days. This level then plateaus and remains stable through postnatal day 35. These findings suggest that neuronal nAChRs containing the α3 subunit participate in important roles in specific regions of the rat brain and the SCG.