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Expression of sodium channel Nav1.6 in cholinergic myenteric neurons of guinea pig proximal colon

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Abstract

We wished to establish the functional identity of Nav1.6-expressing myenteric neurons of the guinea pig proximal colon by determining the extent of colocalization of Nav1.6 and selected neurochemical markers. Nav1.6-like immunoreactivity (-li) was primarily localized to the hillock and initial segments of myenteric neurons located near junctions with internodal fiber tracts. Immunoreactivity for Nav1.6 was co-localized with choline-acetyltransferase-li, representing 96% of Nav1.6-immunoreactive neurons; about 5% of these neurons showed co-localization with calretinin-li, but none with substance-P-li. Cholinergic neurons expressing Nav1.6 were amongst the smallest (somal area <300 μm2) of all cholinergic myenteric neurons observed. Only three of 234 Nav1.6-immunoreactive neurons exhibited nNOS-li, and none co-localized with calbindin-li. These data suggest that Nav1.6 is expressed in a small uniform population of cholinergic myenteric neurons that lie within the guinea pig proximal colon and that are likely to function as excitatory motor neurons.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Carlene Emerson, Kandi King and Huijun Yan for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Neuroscience, Department of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology and Physiology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6520, USA

    A. C. Bartoo, L. K. Sprunger & D. A. Schneider

  2. Center for Integrated Biotechnology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6520, USA

    L. K. Sprunger

Authors
  1. A. C. Bartoo
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  2. L. K. Sprunger
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  3. D. A. Schneider
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. A. Schneider.

Additional information

This work was supported in part by grants from the Autzen Endowment and Cadeau Foundation. A.C. Bartoo was supported by a grant from the Poncin Foundation.

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Bartoo, A.C., Sprunger, L.K. & Schneider, D.A. Expression of sodium channel Nav1.6 in cholinergic myenteric neurons of guinea pig proximal colon. Cell Tissue Res 325, 203–209 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-006-0179-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-006-0179-3

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