Research report
Double in situ hybridization study on coexistence of μ-, δ- and κ-opioid receptor mRNAs with preprotachykinin A mRNA in the rat dorsal root ganglia

https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-328X(94)00290-UGet rights and content

Abstract

Coexistence of the mRNA for each subtype of opioid receptor (OPR) with the mRNA for preprotachykinin A (PPTA), a precursor protein of substance P (SP), in the rat dorsal root ganglia was examined by double in situ hybridization technique. About 90% and 30% of PPTA mRNA-positive neurons expressed μ- and κ-OPR mRNAs at high level, respectively. However, only about 3% of PPTA mRNA-positive neurons expressed δ-OPR mRNA at high level. These results suggest that μ- and κ-OPRs exist on most of and a part of the primary afferent terminals containing SP, respectively. On the other hand, among the neurons which highly expressed μ-, δ- or κ-OPR mRNA, PPTA mRNA was not expressed in about 58%, 95% or 24% of those neurons, respectively. These findings suggest the possibility that OPRs co-exist with other neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators than SP in the primary afferent neurons.

References (32)

Cited by (137)

  • Delta opioid receptors presynaptically regulate cutaneous mechanosensory neuron input to the spinal cord dorsal horn

    2014, Neuron
    Citation Excerpt :

    The results clearly indicate that, as we proposed based on the analysis of DORGFP knockin mice (Scherrer et al., 2009), DOR is predominantly expressed by large-diameter myelinated DRG neurons, as well as by a subpopulation of IB4-binding nonpeptidergic unmyelinated nociceptors, but very rarely by SP+ unmyelinated nociceptors. Importantly, our conclusions are consistent with previous studies performed in wild-type mice and rats that reported that “intense DOR mRNA hybridization was primarily observed over large ganglion cells immunopositive for neurofilament 200” (Mennicken et al., 2003) and that “among the neurons which highly expressed mu-, delta- or kappa-OPR mRNA, PPTA mRNA was not expressed in about 58%, 95%, or 24% of those neurons, respectively” (Minami et al., 1995). On the other hand conclusions derived from use of the anti-DOR3-17 antibody disagree with these earlier findings, and with ours.

View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text