Electrophysiological Evidence for Functional Astrocytic P2X₃ Receptors in the Mouse Trigeminal Caudal Nucleus.
- Author:
Jaekwang LEE
1
;
Jin Young BAE
;
C Justin LEE
;
Yong Chul BAE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords: Electrophysiology; Trigeminal Caudal Nucleus; Astrocytes; Purinergic P2X₃; Pain
- MeSH: Animals; Astrocytes; Brain Stem; Electrophysiology; Fluorescence; Membranes; Mice*; Trigeminal Caudal Nucleus*
- From:Experimental Neurobiology 2018;27(2):88-93
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Recently, we reported that astrocytes in the trigeminal caudal nucleus (Vc) of the brain stem express a purinergic receptor P2X₃, which is involved in the craniofacial pathologic pain. Although we observed protein expression of P2X₃ receptors (P2X₃ Rs) in the astrocyte of the Vc, it is still unclear that astrocyte has functional P2X₃Rs in Vc. To address this issue, we recorded asrtocytic P2X₃Rs by using whole cell voltage-clamp recording in the Vc of the GFAP-GFP mice, which was used as a guide to astrocytes with green fluorescence. While measuring voltage ramp-induced astrocytic membrane current, we found the amplitude of the current was increased when we applied P2-purinoreceptor agonist, α,β-meATP. This increase was blocked by co-application of A317491, P2X₃R antagonist. These results demonstrate that astrocytes in the Vc express functional P2X₃Rs, which might be critical in craniofacial pathologic pain.
