Characterization of a functional P2X7-like receptor in cerebellar granule neurons from P2X7 knockout mice

The presence of ionotropic P2X7 receptor has been studied in mice brain from wild type and P2X7 receptor knockout animals. Western blot and immunocytochemical assays show the presence of a protein containing the P2X7 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 P2X7 specific mRNA expression have been detected. Functional calcium imaging experiments in cultured granule neurons from P2X7 knockout cerebella show the existence of a functional P2X7-like receptor that keeps some of the properties of the genuine receptor.