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Glial cells, but not interstitial cells, express P2X7, an ionotropic purinergic receptor, in rat gastrointestinal musculature

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Abstract

Purinergic (ATP) neurotransmission is a component of the inhibitory response of the musculature in various regions of the gastrointestinal tract. So far, seven ionotropic purinergic receptors (P2X1–7) have been cloned. As specific antibodies become available, their respective distribution in the gastrointestinal tract can be elucidated. Here, we used high-resolution tricolor confocal microscopy, to study the distribution of P2X7-immunoreactive (-ir) cells in the muscularis propria of the rat stomach, small intestine, and colon. Smooth muscle cells, KIT-ir interstitial cells of Cajal, and CD34/SK3-ir fibroblastlike cells were P2X7-negative, whereas P2X7 immunoreactivity was observed in nerves and S100-ir glial cells. In all regions studied, P2X7 immunoreactivity was also observed in myenteric and submucosal ganglia, where perineuronal nerve endings appeared brightly labeled. Our observations suggest that purinergic signaling could influence the enteric glia through P2X7 receptors.

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Fig. 1A–D.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from Fondation Médicale Reine Elisabeth (Belgium), Fund for Medical Scientific Research (FRSM) (Belgium), National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS) (Belgium), Fondation Universitaire David et Alice Van Buuren (Belgium), and IUAP/PAI Program 2002-2006 (contract P5/20) (Belgium)

J.-M.V. is Senior Research Associate of the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium)

We are indebted to Huy Nguyen Tran for skillful assistance with confocal imaging and artwork preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Campus Erasme, CP 601, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean-Marie Vanderwinden & Serge N. Schiffmann

  2. Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, University of Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium

    Jean-Pierre Timmermans

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  1. Jean-Marie Vanderwinden
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  2. Jean-Pierre Timmermans
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  3. Serge N. Schiffmann
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Correspondence to Jean-Marie Vanderwinden.

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Vanderwinden, JM., Timmermans, JP. & Schiffmann, S.N. Glial cells, but not interstitial cells, express P2X7, an ionotropic purinergic receptor, in rat gastrointestinal musculature. Cell Tissue Res 312, 149–154 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-003-0716-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-003-0716-2

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