Skip to main content
Log in

Expression of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in the rat carotid sinus, aortic arch, vena cava, and heart, as well as petrosal and nodose ganglia

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Purinergic Signalling Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

With single- and double-labeling immunofluorescence techniques, the distribution patterns and morphological characteristics of P2X2- and P2X3-immunoreactive nerve fiber terminals and neuronal bodies have been studied in the main circulatory system baroreceptors and the nodose and petrosal ganglia of rats. A high density of P2X2- and P2X3-immunoreactive nerve fiber terminals was detected in the carotid sinus. P2X2- and P2X3-immunoreactive nerve fiber terminals were also distributed widely in the aortic arch, atrium, vena cava, and ventricles. Almost all the P2X2-immunoreactive nerve fiber terminals were immunoreactive for P2X3 receptors. P2X2- and P2X3-immunoreactive neuronal bodies were also detected in the nodose and petrosal ganglia, which are the sources of the P2X2- and P2X3-immunoreactive nerve terminals. P2X2 and P2X3 receptors were expressed in the same ganglionic neurons. These data indicate that extracellular ATP, via the homomeric P2X2 and P2X3 receptors, and heteromeric P2X2/3 receptor in the sensory receptors of carotid sinus, aortic arch, atrium, and vena cava, may be involved in the regulation of systematic circulation blood pressure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Burnstock G (2007) Physiology and pathophysiology of purinergic neurotransmission. Physiol Rev 87:659–797

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Burnstock G (2009) Purinergic mechanosensory transduction and visceral pain. Mol Pain 5:69

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bo X, Alavi A, Xiang Z, Oglesby I, Ford A, Burnstock G (1999) Localization of ATP-gated P2X2 and P2X3 receptor immunoreactive nerves in rat taste buds. Neuroreport 10:1107–1111

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Rong W, Gourine AV, Cockayne DA, Xiang Z, Ford AP, Spyer KM, Burnstock G (2003) Pivotal role of nucleotide P2X2 receptor subunit of the ATP-gated ion channel mediating ventilatory responses to hypoxia. J Neurosci 23:11315–11321

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wang ZJ, Neuhuber WL (2003) Intraganglionic laminar endings in the rat esophagus contain purinergic P2X2 and P2X3 receptor immunoreactivity. Anat Embryol (Berl) 207:363–371

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Xiang Z, Burnstock G (2004) Development of nerves expressing P2X3 receptors in the myenteric plexus of rat stomach. Histochem Cell Biol 122:111–119

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Chapleau MW, Hajduczok G, Abboud FM (1988) Mechanisms of resetting of arterial baroreceptors: an overview. Am J Med Sci 295:327–334

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Oglesby IB, Lachnit WG, Burnstock G, Ford APDW (1999) Subunit specificity of polyclonal antisera to the carboxy terminal regions of P2X receptors, P2X1 through P2X7. Drug Dev Res 47:189–195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bock P, Gorgas K (1976) Fine structure of baroreceptor terminals in the carotid sinus of guinea pigs and mice. Cell Tissue Res 170:95–112

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. North RA (2002) Molecular physiology of P2X receptors. Physiol Rev 82:1013–1067

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. North RA, Surprenant A (2000) Pharmacology of cloned P2X receptors. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 40:563–580

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lewis C, Neidhart S, Holy C, North RA, Buell G, Surprenant A (1995) Coexpression of P2X2 and P2X3 receptor subunits can account for ATP-gated currents in sensory neurons. Nature 377:432–435

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Thomas S, Virginio C, North RA, Surprenant A (1998) The antagonist trinitrophenyl-ATP reveals co-existence of distinct P2X receptor channels in rat nodose neurones. J Physiol 509(Pt 2):411–417

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Dunn PM, Zhong Y, Burnstock G (2001) P2X receptors in peripheral neurons. Prog Neurobiol 65:107–134

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Cockayne DA, Hamilton SG, Zhu QM, Dunn PM, Zhong Y, Novakovic S, Malmberg AB, Cain G, Berson A, Kassotakis L, Hedley L, Lachnit WG, Burnstock G, McMahon SB, Ford AP (2000) Urinary bladder hyporeflexia and reduced pain-related behaviour in P2X3-deficient mice. Nature 407:1011–1015

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Finger TE, Danilova V, Barrows J, Bartel DL, Vigers AJ, Stone L, Hellekant G, Kinnamon SC (2005) ATP signaling is crucial for communication from taste buds to gustatory nerves. Science 310:1495–1499

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Wang Y, Li G, Liang S, Zhang A, Xu C, Gao Y, Zhang C, Wan F (2008) Role of P2X3 receptor in myocardial ischemia injury and nociceptive sensory transmission. Auton Neurosci 139:30–37

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Heymans C (1958) Baroceptor and chemoceptor reflexes in monkeys. Circ Res 6:567–569

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Cars well F, Hainsworth R, Ledsome JR (1968) The effects of varying pressures in the aortic arch on limb resistance and heart rate. J Physiol 196:38–39

    Google Scholar 

  20. Hu B, Chiang CY, Hu JW, Dostrovsky JO, Sessle BJ (2002) P2X receptors in trigeminal subnucleus caudalis modulate central sensitization in trigeminal subnucleus oralis. J Neurophysiol 88:1614–1624

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hegg CC, Greenwood D, Huang W, Han P, Lucero MT (2003) Activation of purinergic receptor subtypes modulates odor sensitivity. J Neurosci 23:8291–8301

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang M, Zhong H, Vollmer C, Nurse CA (2000) Co-release of ATP and ACh mediates hypoxic signalling at rat carotid body chemoreceptors. J Physiol 525(Pt 1):143–158

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by 973 Program (2011CB504401 to Z. Xiang) and the National Natural Science Foundation of the People’s Republic of China (30970918 to Z. Xiang). The authors thank Dr. Gillian E. Knight for her excellent editorial assistance. We also thank Roche Bioscience, Palo Alto, CA for kindly supplying P2X antisera and peptides.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Geoffrey Burnstock or Zhenghua Xiang.

Additional information

XM Song and XF Gao contributed equally to this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Song, X., Gao, X., Guo, D. et al. Expression of P2X2 and P2X3 receptors in the rat carotid sinus, aortic arch, vena cava, and heart, as well as petrosal and nodose ganglia. Purinergic Signalling 8, 15–22 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11302-011-9249-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11302-011-9249-4

Keywords

Navigation