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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

In Vivo Calcium Imaging of Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons' Response to Somatic and Visceral Stimuli
Published on: March 1, 2024
GPR35 is a functional receptor in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons
Hiroyuki Ohshiro1, Hiroko Tonai-Kachi, Katsuomi Ichikawa
1Pfizer Global Research and Development, Discovery Biology Research, 5-2 Taketoyo, Aichi 470-2393, Japan. Hiroyuki.Ohshiro@pfizer.com
Abstract:
GPR35, previously an orphan G-protein coupled receptor, is a receptor for kynurenic acid. Here we examine the distribution of GPR35 in the rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the effects of its selective activation. GPR35 was expressed predominantly by small- to medium-diameter neurons of the DRG. Many of these same neurons also expressed the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channel, a nociceptive neuronal marker. The GPR35 agonists kynurenic acid and zaprinast inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP production by cultured rat DRG neurons. Inhibition required G(i/o) proteins as the effect was completely abolished by pretreatment with pertussis toxin. This is the first study to report the expression and function of GPR35 in rat nociceptive DRG neurons. We propose that GPR35 modulates nociception and that continued study of this receptor will provide additional insight into the role of kynurenic acid in pain perception.
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