Dystrophin stabilizes alpha 3- but not alpha 7-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes at the postsynaptic apparatus in the mouse superior cervical ganglion.
Neurobiol Dis
; 10(1): 54-66, 2002 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12079404
ABSTRACT
The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes were characterized in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of wild-type and dystrophin-lacking mdx mice. The binding of Epibatidine and alphaBungarotoxin, ligands for alpha3- and alpha7-containing receptors, respectively, revealed, for each ligand, a single class of high-affinity binding sites, with similar affinity in both wild-type and mdx mice. The Epibatidine-labeled receptors were immunoprecipitated by antibodies against the alpha3, beta2, and beta4 subunits. Immunocytochemistry showed that the percentage of alpha3-, beta2-, and beta4- but not of alpha7-immunopositive postsynaptic specializations was significantly lower in mdx than in wild-type mouse SCG. These observations suggest that the mouse SCG contains nAChRs, stabilized by dystrophin, in which the alpha3 subunit is associated with the beta2 and/or beta4 subunits. Conversely, dystrophin is not involved in the stabilization of the alpha7-containing nAChRs, as the percentage of alpha7-immunopositive synapses is similar in both wild-type and mdx mouse SCG.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Sinapses
/
Distrofina
/
Receptores Nicotínicos
/
Gânglio Cervical Superior
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2002
Tipo de documento:
Article