Schwann cells in rat vascular autonomic nerves activated via purinergic receptors

Abstract

Schwann cells at the somatic neuromuscular junction possess adenosine receptors that when activated by the release of endogenous transmitter modulate quantal transmitter release. Recently, purinergic receptors have been shown to exist on Schwann cells of axon varicosities in visceral smooth muscle where they are activated by endogenous transmitters to give a calcium transient, although adenosine receptors were not identified. In the present work, we show that Schwann cells associated with axon varicosities of vascular smooth muscle, namely that of mesenteric blood vessels, possess both adenosine and purinergic receptors that when activated give rise to calcium transients in these cells. Then qualitative differences exist in the extent of adenosine and purine receptors that give rise to calcium transients in Schwann cells located in these different muscles.

Topology of Schwann cells and sympathetic innervation along preglomerular vessels: a confocal microscopic study in protein S100B/EGFP transgenic mice

“…6 and 7). In agreement with previous studies (3,27,28,42), varicosities were organized as strings in close apposition to Sc processes and oriented toward the effector smooth muscle cells (Fig. 6, A and B).…”

“…A similar conclusion was reached for a population of cells present on the adventitia of large intrarenal arteries. On the other hand, an EGFP-positive cell population was found within the perivascular space that concurrently expressed protein S100B and exhibited morphological characteristics of Sc (15,27,28,39). Similarly, observation of the pelvic mucosa revealed a meshwork of EGFP-and protein S100B-positive cells with anatomic characteristics of Sc.…”

“…1, merged panel). On pure anatomic grounds (15,25,27,28,39), these cells likely represent the Sc population located within the renal cortex. Figure 2 illustrates at a higher power and spatial definition the phenotypic traits of these Sc.…”

Perisynaptic Schwann Cells at the Neuromuscular Synapse: Adaptable, Multitasking Glial Cells

“…PSCs at other vertebrate NMJs were also shown to detect the release of neurotransmitters on stimulation of the motor nerve (Fig. 3A,B) (Rochon et al 2001;Lin and Bennett 2006;Todd et al 2007Todd et al , 2010.…”

[Ca2+] changes in sympathetic varicosities and Schwann cells in rat mesenteric arteries—Relation to noradrenaline release and contraction

“…Notably, ATP did not increase fluorescence when axons were loaded with Oregon Green 488 BAPTA‐1 dextran. Schwann cells in the sympathetic nerves respond to ATP with an increase in [Ca 2+ ] i , so our data strongly suggest that Schwann cells take up Calcium Green‐AM and that [Ca 2+ ] i changes following intervention reflect Schwann cell function. We suggest that Schwann cell pharmacology can be assessed by imaging these areas following Calcium Green‐AM loading.…”