Chemical Transmission Between DRG Somata Via Intervening Satellite Cell

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Chemical Transmission Between DRG Somata Via Intervening Satellite Cell Sandwich Synapse: Chemical Transmission Between DRG Somata via Intervening Satellite cell by Hyunhee Kim A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Physiology and Neuroscience University of Toronto © Copyright by Hyunhee Kim 2010 ii Sandwich Synapse: Chemical Transmission between Dorsal Root Ganglion Somata via Intervening Satellite Glial Cell Hyunhee Kim Master of Science Department of Physiology and Neuroscience University of Toronto 2010 ABSTRACT The structure of afferent neurons is pseudounipolar. Studies suggest that they relay action potentials (APs) to both directions of the T-junctions to reach the cell body and the spinal cord. Moreover, the somata are electrically excitable and shown to be able to transmit the signals to associated satellite cells. Our study demonstrates that this transmission can go further and pass onto passive neighbouring somata, if they are in direct contact with same satellite cells. The neurons activate the satellite cells by releasing ATP. This triggers the satellite cells to exocytose acetylcholine to the neighbouring neurons. In addition, the ATP inhibits the nicotinic receptors of the neurons by activating P2Y receptors and initiating the G-protein-mediated pathway, thus reducing the signals that return to the neurons that initiated the signals. This “sandwich synapse” represents a unique pathway by the ectopic release between the somata and the satellite cells. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First and foremost, I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to Dr. Elise F. Stanley, my supervisor. All of the work was made possible by her continuous guidance and support. Throughout the course of my study, she has taught me of scientific knowledge, critical thinking skills, the integrity required as a researcher, and most importantly the passion for scientific research. I am also grateful for her hard work needed in order to teach a girl who did not have any experience outside of school. It has been such an honour to be one of her graduate students. I would like to thank my supervisory committee, Drs. Milton P. Charlton and Peter Backx. I am in debt of their valuable suggestions and insightful comments that significantly influenced this work. I am also thankful to my defense committee, Drs. Melanie Woodin, Diane M. Broussard, and Shuzo Sugita. A thousand thanks to all my lab members, past and present, Dr. Qi Li, Alex Webber, Fiona K. Wong and Sabiha Gardezi, Adele Tufford, and Maria Altshuler. It was a great learning experience for me to work with them. I appreciate all the knowledge and techniques that they taught me. I also would like to express my gratitude to my friends who cheered and supported me for the last two years. To my dearest friends, Wenjun, Jinnie, Melody and Youngjoo: you guys are the best. I am also thankful to Dr. Schlichter’s lab. I had such a wonderful time with them. I would like to express my special love and gratitude to Mother, Father and Namhee who have been always there for me and gave me strength to go further. I love you, Umma. I would like to dedicate this thesis to you. Lastly, Thank you, God, for always giving me more than I deserve. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF FIGURES vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vii INTRODUCTION 1 PART 1: OVERVIEW OF SOMATOSENSORY SYSTEM 1 Spinal somatosensory pathways 1 PART 2: DORSAL ROOT GANGLION NEURONS 4 Anatomy of DRG 4 The functional cell-types in DRG neurons 4 Morphology of the afferent sensory neurons 5 Ectopic release from DRG neurons 6 Receptor in DRG neurons 7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor 7 P2X receptor 8 P2Y receptor 9 Cross excitation between DRG neurons 10 PART 3: SATELLITE GLIAL CELLS 11 Anatomy and physiology 11 The satellite cell as a protective layer of DRG neurons 12 Receptors in satellite glial cells 13 Neuron-satellite cell interactions 13 Role of the satellite cells in neuronal development and regeneration 14 Bi-directional communication between the satellite cells and the neurons 15 GOAL OF THE STUDY 19 HYPOTHESIS 20 METHODS 21 Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) dissection 21 Enzyme Treatment 21 Dissociating and plating of the DRG cells 22 v Electrophysiology 22 Single patch-clamp recordings 22 Pair patch-clamp recording 23 Drug experiment (electrophysiology) 24 Immunocytochemistry 24 Electron Microscopy 26 Statistical Analysis 26 RESULTS 28 Presynaptic markers are localized at the junction between DRG neuron 28 The current fluctuation in a DRG neuron often increases with adjacent neuron excitation 28 Satellite cells reside in between DRG neurons. 34 DRG neuron to satellite cell transmission is purinergic (P2X receptor mediation) 36 Satellite cell to DRG neuron transmission is cholinergic 41 P2Y receptors in DRG neuron inhibit satellite to DRG neuron transmission 45 Relief of G-protein inhibition in DRG neurons enhances neuronal cross-excitation 55 DISCUSSION 56 The chemical basis of the sandwich synapse 56 The sandwich synapse as the functional unit of DRG neuronal communication 61 REFERENCE LIST 65 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Simplified diagram of somatosensory pathway 3 Figure 2: Chemical signalling between DRG neurons and satellite cells 17 Figure 3: Hypothesis 20 Figure 4. Synaptic proteins at the junction between the DRG pair 29 Figure 5. DRG neurons display spontaneous inward current transients 31 Figure 6. Inward current transient of DRG pairs become enhanced after stimulation in adjacent neurons 32 Figure 7. Satellite cell separating neighbouring DRG neuronal pair 35 Figure 8. Miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPCs) in satellite cells. 37 Figure 9. DRG neuron to satellite cell transmission is purinergic. 40 Figure 10. Response of DRG neurons to the purinergic and cholinergic agonists. 42 Figure 11. satellite cell to DRG neuron transmission is cholinergic. 43 Figure 12. mEPC-like activities appear in the neurons after the inhibition of G protein. 46 Figure 13. Neuronal mEPCs are cholinergic. 47 Figure 14. ATP applied to the satellite cells triggers mEPC activity in the neuron 49 Figure 15. G-protein mediated inhibition of the cholinergic transmission is induced by the activation of P2Y receptors. 51 Figure 16. Role of G protein activities in the neuronal-pair communication. 54 Figure 17. Schematic diagram of the Sandwich Synapse 62 vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full name ACh Acetylcholine ATP Adenosine triphosphate Cav2.2 N-type calcium channel ChAT Choline-O-acetyltrasferase CNQX 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione DRG Dorsal Root Ganglion D-TC d-tubocurarine EGTA ethylene glycol tetra-acetic acid GDPβS guanosine 5'-O-[gamma-thio] diphosphate HEPES 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid MEM Minimum essential medium nAChR Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor P2XR Purinergic receptor (ionotropic) P2YR Purinergic receptor (metabotropic) PCB Pancuronium bromide RIM Rab3-interacting molecule SGC Satellite glial cell SP Substance P SV2 Synaptic Vesicle Protein 2 TRP Transient receptor potential TTX Tetrodotoxin 1 INTRODUCTION PART 1: OVERVIEW OF THE SOMATOSENSORY NERVOUS SYSTEM The sensory system monitors the state of the organism and changes in its environment. It does so by using external detection via sense organs, such as touch, taste, smell, vision and sounds, and internal detection via mechanical receptors such as proprioception, pressure and temperature. The detected signal is transferred to the brain by different neuronal systems (e.g., visual or olfactory systems). Among these, the somatosensory system governs the recognition of mechanical stimulation, such as touch, temperature, nociception and proprioception (Arezzo et al., 1982). Spinal somatosensory system pathways Sensory information, coded as action potentials (APs), passes from the sensory endings to the somatosensory cortex in the brain via a series of neuronal relays through three orders of organization. First order neurons have their cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglion which project axons to the sense organ or ending and to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord where they synapse onto dendrites of the second order neurons. These axons ascend within the spinothalamic tract or dorsal column-medial lemniscus to the thalamus. The third order is composed of a neuronal network that connects the thalamus to an area of the cerebral cortex layer IV (Greenstein and Greenstein, 2000; Kandel et al., 2000; Martini et al., 2004; Randall et al., 2002). The first order neurons, whose endings express sensory receptors that extend across the periphery, relay the information to the central nervous system as AP trains. The nerve endings are equipped with mechanoreceptors that transform the physical 2 stimulus to electrical impulses (Greenstein and Greenstein, 2000). Two of the most common mechanoreceptors are Meissner’s corpuscles and Pacinian corpuscles (Smith, 2008). Deformation of the corpuscle opens Na + channels in the nerve terminal, bringing up membrane potential to threshold and generating APs (Greenstein and Greenstein, 2000). The APs travel along the afferent axons within the peripheral nerve, through the dorsal roots to the nerve terminals within the spinal cord. The nerve fibers that carry the APs to the spinal cord differ in diameter and morphology, with size classes that are related to sense organ functions. There are two main types of sensory axon: myelinated “A” type, and the slowly conducting, unmyelinated “C” type. The A type can be further subdivided into three subtypes: Aα, Aβ, Aγ in order of diameter and conduction velocity, where the Aα fibers are the largest and fastest (Greenstein and Greenstein, 2000; Lawson et al., 1993; Lawson, 2002). The nerve terminals of the afferent neurons eventually transmit the signals to the laminae I to IV of the gray matter. The different fibers innervate different regions (Smith, 2008). After reaching the spinal cord the signal generally ascends to the ventral posterolateral (VPL) nucleus in the thalamus. However, some fibers project into the ventral root that induce muscle reflexes (Fig. 1; Martini et al., 2004). The APs from the VPL nucleus eventually pass the posterior limb of the internal capsule and reach the postcentral gyrus.
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