TRPV2-immunoreactive intrinsic neurons in the rat intestine

Transient receptor potential channel vanilloid subfamily 2 (TRPV2) was shown to receive noxious thermal stimuli (>52 degrees C), and to be expressed in fine myelinated afferent neurons. The mRNA and the immunoreactivity have also been detected in several peripheral tissues. We examined the expression of TRPV2 in the rat intestine. An analysis by transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated TRPV2 gene expression in the intestine. Many TRPV2-positive neurons were observed in the myenteric plexus by immunohistochemistry. Some of these neurons were positive for calbindin D-28K (CaBP), which is present in intrinsic afferent neurons. TRPV2 immunoreactivity was also observed in nodose ganglion neurons (vagal afferents). These findings suggest that TRPV2 is expressed not only in sensory ganglion neurons, but also in enteric neurons, including primary afferent neurons.