Characterization of a functional P2X(7)-like receptor in cerebellar granule neurons from P2X(7) knockout mice

The presence of ionotropic P2X 7 receptor has been studied in mice brain from wild type and P2X 7 receptor knockout animals. Western blot and immunocytochemical assays show the presence of a protein containing the P2X 7 immunogenic epitopes in the brain of knockout model. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction experiments demonstrate the absence of the disrupted sequence, but other sequences of P2X 7 specific mRNA expression have been detected. Functional calcium imaging experiments in cultured granule neurons from P2X 7 knockout cerebella show the existence of a functional P2X 7 -like receptor that keeps some of the properties of the genuine receptor.