Systematic Studies of Kir and TRP Channel mRNAs in the Norepinephrenergic Neurons of the Locus Coeruleus

Author

Sakuntala Jyothirmayee Tadepalli, Georgia State UniversityFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-7-2011

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Chun Jiang

Second Advisor

Andrew Clancy

Third Advisor

William Walthall

Abstract

Neurons in the Locus coeruleus (LC) play an important role in the central CO₂ chemosensitivity. However, the molecular mechanisms for neuronal CO₂ chemosensitivity remain unclear. To demonstrate the expression of pH/CO₂ sensitive ion channels, we screened the inward rectifier K⁺ channels (Kir) and transient receptor protein (TRP) channels, as parallel studies in this lab suggested that certain Kir and TRP channels are involved in neuronal responses to high levels of CO₂. Our results showed that several members of the Kir and TRP channel families were robustly expressed in the LC neurons at the mRNA level. Of particular interest are TRPC5, Kir4.1 and Kir5.1 channels that are all pH-sensitive. The rich expression of various pH-sensitive Kir and TRP channels suggests that these ion channels are likely to play a role in the chemosensitivity of LC neurons.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/1963155

Recommended Citation

Tadepalli, Sakuntala Jyothirmayee, "Systematic Studies of Kir and TRP Channel mRNAs in the Norepinephrenergic Neurons of the Locus Coeruleus." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2011.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1963155