Isolectin B₄binding in populations of rat trigeminal ganglion cells

We have recently classified dissociated trigeminal ganglion cells into nine types using electrophysiological current signatures. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between isolectin B(4) (IB(4)) binding and the cell types in rat trigeminal ganglion cells. We found that IB(4) was bound to all type 2 cells and more than 70% of cell types 1 and 13; however, it was bound to less than 20% of cell types 7 and 8 and did not bind at all to cell types 3-5 and 9. Thus, each trigeminal ganglion cell type showed high homogeneity in IB(4) binding. These results correspond to reported IB(4) binding profiles in the matched dorsal root ganglion cell types, except for types 5 and 7.