Immunohistochemical localization of a metabotropic glutamate receptor, mGluR7, in ganglion neurons of the rat; with special reference to the presence in glutamatergic ganglion neurons.

Immunoreactivity for the metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGluR7) and that for phosphate-activated glutaminase (PAG) were examined in the trigeminal (TG), dorsal root (DRG), nodose (NG), superior cervical, celiac, and pelvic ganglia of the rat. Virtually all neuronal cell bodies showed mGluR7-like immunoreactivity (mGluR7-LI) in these ganglia. On the other hand, PAG-like immunoreactivity (PAG) was seen in almost all neuronal cell bodies in the TG, DRG and NG, but not in the other ganglia. Co-existence of mGluR7- and PAG-LI in the TG, DRG and NG was confirmed by a double-immunofluorescence immunohistochemical method. The results indicate that virtually all sensory ganglion neurons are glutamatergic and equipped with mGluR7.