Alpha 2a Adrenergic Receptor

Alpha 2A, 2B, and 2C adrenergic receptors are seven transmembrane receptors that couple to inhibitory G-proteins. Alpha 2C has a wide distribution pattern in the CNS. On neurons Alpha 2 adrenergic receptors are located on both pre- and postsynaptic domains where they mediate an inhibitory role in the central and peripheral nervous system. Alpha 2C has a wide distribution pattern in the CNS. At the spinal cord level the vast majority of alpha 2C is not of primary afferent origin; however, a small fraction of neurons in DRG do express mRNA for alpha 2C and harbor the protein. Colocalization has been observed between alpha 2C and enkephalin in the spinal cord dorsal horn, suggesting that alpha 2C may be expressed by a subset of spinal interneurons. The distribution pattern of alpha 2C suggests functions at several levels in the brain. Antibody showed positive staining in rat spinal cord dorsal horn, ventral horn motor neurons and retina. When examined in other brain regions known to express α2A staining was not observed.

A2A: Customer Publications

Images: Double immunofluorescence labeling showing α2C-AR- and TRPV1-immmunoreactivity in the spinal cord dorsal horn of one vehicle-treated and one RTX-treated rat. Representative confocal images showing α2C-AR- and VR1 C-terminus (TRPV1)-immunoreactivities in the spinal dorsal horn of one vehicle- and one RTX-treated rat. All images are single confocal optical sections. Scale bar, 100 μm. Inset: high-magnification images (scale bar = 10 μm) showing the distribution of α2C-AR- and TRPV1-immunoreactivity in the lamina I and II. Neuropharmacology. 2007 June; 52(8): 1624–1630.