Expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor mRNA in the adult rat peripheral vestibular system

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 738; no. 2; pp. 347 - 352
• Main Authors: Hiel, Hakim, Elgoyhen, Ana B., Drescher, Dennis G., Morley, Barbara J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 04-11-1996
• Subjects: Animals; Efferent; Female; Hair cell; Hair Cells, Vestibular - metabolism; Hybridization, in situ; In Situ Hybridization; Male; Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; Rats; Receptors, Nicotinic - genetics; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Scarpa's ganglion; Space life sciences; Vestibular; Vestibular Nerve - metabolism; Vestibule, Labyrinth - metabolism; Scarpa's ganglion; Hair cell; Hybridization, in situ; Efferent; Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; Vestibular
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-8993(96)01046-3

The mRNA expression of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits was determined in adult rat vestibular end-organs and in Scarpa's ganglion (SCG) by in situ hybridization with [
35S]riboprobes. Neurons in the SCG expressed the α4–7 and β2–3 mRNAs, but not α3 or β4 mRNAs. Not all SCG neurons expressed every mRNA found in SCG. The α6 and β2–3 riboprobes labeled all neurons, but α4, α5, and α7 mRNAs were selectively expressed in one or more subpopulations of SCG neurons. Vestibular sensory hair cells, in contrast, expressed only a9 mRNA.