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ENaC localization in the sensory circumventricular organs
Author(s) -
Miller Rebecca,
Wang Michelle,
Gray Paul,
Loewy Arthur
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.694.2
Subject(s) - subfornical organ , circumventricular organs , area postrema , lamina terminalis , immunohistochemistry , in situ hybridization , median eminence , neun , endocrinology , median preoptic nucleus , medicine , epithelial sodium channel , biology , central nervous system , chemistry , blood pressure , angiotensin ii , gene expression , sodium , biochemistry , organic chemistry , gene
Epithelial sodium channels (ENaCs) are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system (Amin et al., 2005). We re‐investigated this issue with a focus on the sensory circumventricular organs (CVOs) in the rat brain. Both in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to identify ENaC alpha‐ and gamma‐subunits in the area postrema (AP), organum vasculosum of lamina terminalis (OVLT), and subfornical organ (SFO). Using ISH, the density of ENaC alpha‐subunit expressing cells was analyzed in all three of the CVOs and found to exceed virtually all other nearby brain areas. ENaCs are present in both neurons and astrocytes in the CVOs. This was determined by double IHC procedures using antibodies against ENaCs in combination with the neuronal markers MAP‐2 or NeuN or the astrocyte marker GFAP. ENaC alpha‐subunit did not colocalize with GFAP, but the ENaC gamma‐subunit was colocalized with GFAP in all CVOs. The results suggest that an important portal of entry for sodium into the brain may be through the CVOs, which are linked to the central networks that modulate salt intake and central control of blood pressure. NHLBI NIH Grant #HL‐25449 and NINDS NIH Grant#NS057105