• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2010

R-type $Ca_v2.3$ high voltage-activated $Ca^{2+}$ channels in peripheral sensory neurons contribute to pain transmission. Recently we have demonstrated that, among the six $Ca_v2.3$ isoforms ($Ca_v2.3a{\sim}Ca_v2.3e$), the $Ca_v2.3e$ isoform is primarily expressed in trigeminal ganglion (TG) nociceptive neurons. In the present study, we further investigated expression patterns of $Ca_v2.3$ isoforms in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. As in TG neurons, whole tissue RT-PCR analyses revealed the presence of two isoforms, $Ca_v2.3a$ and $Ca_v2.3e$, in DRG neurons. Single-cell RT-PCR detected the expression of $Ca_v2.3e$ mRNA in 20% (n=14/70) of DRG neurons, relative to $Ca_v2.3a$ expression in 2.8% (n=2/70) of DRG neurons. $Ca_v2.3e$ mRNA was mainly detected in small-sized neurons (n=12/14), but in only a few medium-sized neurons (n=2/14) and not in large-sized neurons, indicating the prominence of $Ca_v2.3e$ in nociceptive DRG neurons. Moreover, $Ca_v2.3e$ was preferentially expressed in tyrosine-kinase A (trkA)-positive, isolectin B4 (IB4)-negative and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)-positive neurons. These results suggest that $Ca_v2.3e$ may be the main R-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel isoform in nociceptive DRG neurons and thereby a potential target for pain treatment, not only in the trigeminal system but also in the spinal system.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.151-157
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• 2008

Trigeminal primary afferents expressing $P2X_3$ or transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) are involved in the transmission of nociceptive information. In order to characterize $P2X_3$- and TRPV1-immunopositive neurons in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and trigeminal caudal nucleus (Vc), we performed immunofluorescence experiments using anti-$P2X_3$ and anti-TRPV1 antisera and a morphometric analysis. 77.4% (1,401/1.801) of all the $P2X_3$-postive neurons coexpressed TRPV1 and 51.9% (1,401/2,698) of all the THFV1-immunopositive neurons also costained for $P2X_3$ in the TG. Immunoreactivity for both $P2X_3$ and TRPV1 were present in medium-sized neurons but not in small- and large-sized neurons. $P2X_3$ and/or TRPV1-immunopositive fibers were observed in the primary afferents and their associated axons in the Vc. These fibers and terminals were distributed in the superficial lamina of Vc: $P2X_3$-immunopositive fibers and terminals were distributed in the lamina I and II, expecially in the inner part of lamina II (lamina IIi), whereas TRPV1-immunopositive ones were densely detected in the lamina I and outer part of lamina II (lamina IIo). Immunopositive fibers and terminals for both $P2X_3$ and TRPV1 were observed on the border between lamina IIi and IIo. These results suggest that terminals coexpressing $P2X_3$ and TRPV1 are involved in specific roles in the transmission and processing of orofacial nociceptive information.