A missense mutation in Fgfr1 causes ear and skull defects in hush puppy mice.

The hush puppy mouse mutant has been shown previously to have skull and outer, middle, and inner ear defects, and an increase in hearing threshold. The fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (Fgfr1) gene is located in the region of chromosome 8 containing the mutation. Sequencing of the gene in hush puppy heterozygotes revealed a missense mutation in the kinase domain of the protein (W691R).

Evidence for P2Y1, P2Y2, P2Y6 and atypical UTP-sensitive receptors coupled to rises in intracellular calcium in mouse cultured superior cervical ganglion neurons and glia.

1 P2Y receptors are expressed in the nervous system and are involved in calcium signalling in neurons and glia. In the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), RT-PCR analysis indicated the presence of P2Y(1,2&6) receptors. Rises in intracellular calcium in response to P2Y receptor stimulation were determined from adult mouse cultured SCG neurons and glia.

P2X receptor subtype-specific modulation of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs in the rat brainstem.

The role of P2 receptors in synaptic transmission to the rat medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) was studied in an in vitro brain slice preparation. Whole-cell patch recordings were made and spontaneous synaptic responses studied under voltage clamp during application of P2X receptor agonists. ATPgammaS (100 microm) had no effect on holding current, but facilitated spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (sEPSC) frequency in 41% of recordings and facilitated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in 20% of recordings.

Heterogeneity of P2X receptors in sympathetic neurons: contribution of neuronal P2X1 receptors revealed using knockout mice.

P2X receptors are highly expressed throughout the nervous system, where ATP has been shown to be a neurotransmitter. The aim of this study was to characterize P2X receptor expression within sympathetic postganglionic neurons from the superior cervical ganglia. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed the presence of mRNA for all P2X receptors, raising the possibility of multiple subunit expression within these ganglia.