Type II Cells in the Human Carotid Body Display P2X7 Receptor and Pannexin-1 Immunoreactivity.

ABSTRACT: The carotid body is a peripheral chemoreceptor that consists of clusters of chemoreceptive type I cells, glia-like type II cells, afferent and efferent nerves, and sinusoidal capillaries and arterioles. Cells and nerves communicate through reciprocal chemical synapses and electrical coupling that form a "tripartite synapse," which allows for the process of sensory stimuli within the carotid body involving neurotransmission, autocrine, and paracrine pathways. In this network there are a variety of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators including adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP). Carotid body cells and nerve fibre terminals express ATP receptors, i.e., purinergic receptors. Here we used double immunofluorescence associated with laser confocal microscopy to detect the ATP receptor P2X7 and pann

SUBMITTER: Anache M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12649879 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature