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Isolation of Enteric Glial Cells from the Submucosa and Lamina Propria of the Adult Mouse
Published on: August 15, 2018
Glutamate receptor subunit expression in primary enteric glia cultures
Georg B T von Boyen1, Martin Steinkamp, Guido Adler
1Department of Medicine I (Gastroenterology), University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany. georg.boyen@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Journal of Receptor and Signal Transduction Research
|July 5, 2006
Summary
Enteric glial cells (EGCs) express glutamate receptors in the gut. This finding suggests EGCs may play a role in excitotoxicity within the enteric nervous system.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
- Glial cell biology
Background:
- Excitotoxicity, mediated by glutamate receptors, affects the enteric nervous system.
- The role of enteric glial cells (EGCs) in gut excitotoxicity is unknown.
- EGCs share similarities with central nervous system astrocytes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate glutamate receptor subunit expression in EGCs.
- To determine if EGCs are involved in gut excitotoxicity.
Main Methods:
- Primary EGC cultures from the myenteric plexus were established.
- Real-time PCR was used to analyze mRNA expression.
- Western blotting was used to detect protein expression.
Main Results:
- mRNA for glutamate receptor subunits NR1, NR2A/B, GluR1, GluR3, and GluR5 were detected in EGCs.
- Proteins for subunits NR2A/B, GluR1, GluR3, and GluR5 were also identified in EGCs.
Conclusions:
- Enteric glial cells express various glutamate receptor subunits.
- EGCs may be involved in the mechanisms of gut excitotoxicity.
