Co-expression of non-selective cation channels of the transient receptor potential canonical family in central aminergic neurones.

The mammalian transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) group of channels is a family of Ca2+-permeable cation channels that are activated following receptor-mediated stimulation of different isoforms of phospholipase C. In vitro TRPC proteins can form hetero- or homo-oligomeric channels. We performed single-cell RT-PCR analysis to reveal the co-expression of seven TRPC channels in identified rat aminergic neurones. All serotonergic neurones of the dorsal raphe (DR), the majority of histaminergic (tuberomamillary nucleus; TMN) and dopaminergic cells of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), as well as some GABAergic neurones from the VTA, expressed at least one variant of TRPC channels. No TRPC channel expression was found in the locus coeruleus. In raphe neurones TRPC6 and TRPC5 mRNAs occurred most frequently. In VTA and TMN co-expression of TRPC4 with TRPC5 and TRPC6 with TRPC7 was not found in individual neurones (in contrast to the whole-brain regions). Their co-expression in non-neuronal cells could not be excluded. The neonatal TRPC3 subunit was rarely seen. In DR, but not in the other nuclei studied, the expression of orexin receptors correlated with the expression of TRPC channels. We conclude that several TRPC channel populations exist in individual neurones and that their subunit co-expression pattern is region and cell-type specific.