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The insulin receptor is differentially expressed in somatic and visceral primary sensory neurons

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Abstract

Recent studies demonstrated the expression of the insulin receptor (InsR) and its functional interaction with the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 receptor (TRPV1) in primary sensory neurons (PSNs). The present study was undertaken to reveal the target-specific expression of the InsR and its co-localization with the TRPV1 in rat PSNs. We assessed the localization of the InsR and its co-localization with the TRPV1 in PSNs retrogradely labelled with biotin-conjugated wheat germ agglutinin injected into the dorsal hind paw skin, the gastrocnemius muscle, the pancreas and the urinary bladder wall. The largest proportions of retrogradely labelled InsR-immunoreactive neurons were identified among PSNs serving the pancreas (~ 54%) and the urinary bladder (~ 53%). The proportions of retrogradely labelled InsR-immunoreactive neurons innervating the dorsal hind paw skin and the gastrocnemius muscle amounted to ~ 22 and ~ 21%. TRPV1-immunoreactive neurons amounted to ~ 63, ~ 62, ~ 67 and ~ 65% of retrogradely labelled cutaneous, muscle, pancreatic and urinary bladder PSNs, respectively. Co-localization of the TRPV1 with the InsR was observed in ~ 16, ~ 15, ~ 29 and ~ 30% of retrogradely labelled cutaneous, muscle, pancreatic and urinary bladder PSNs. These quantitative immunohistochemical data demonstrate a preponderance of InsR-immunoreactivity among PSNs, which innervate visceral targets. The present findings suggest that visceral spinal PSNs are more likely to be exposed to the modulatory effects of insulin on sensory functions, including neurotrophic, nociceptive and inflammatory processes.

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Funding

This work was supported in part by the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office (GINOP-2.3.2-15.2016-00034). B.A. Lázár was supported by the UNKP-17-3 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities and the TÁMOP 4.2.4.A/2-11/1-2012-0001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Kálvária sugárút 57, Szeged, H-6725, Hungary

    Bence András Lázár

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary

    Bence András Lázár, Gábor Jancsó & Péter Sántha

  3. Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK

    István Nagy

  4. First Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

    Viktor Horváth

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  1. Bence András Lázár
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  2. Gábor Jancsó
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  5. Péter Sántha
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Correspondence to Bence András Lázár.

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All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which studies were conducted (Ethics Committee for Animal Care at the University of Szeged—Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes and the Guidelines of the Committee for Research.)

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Lázár, B.A., Jancsó, G., Nagy, I. et al. The insulin receptor is differentially expressed in somatic and visceral primary sensory neurons. Cell Tissue Res 374, 243–249 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-018-2868-0

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