Expression of Cys‐loop receptor subunits and acetylcholine binding protein in the mechanosensory neurons, glial cells, and muscle tissue of the spider Cupiennius salei

ABSTRACT The central and peripheral nervous system transcriptomes of the spider Cupiennius salei have 15 Cys‐loop receptor subunits and an acetylcholine‐binding protein (AChBP). Twelve subunits are predicted to form anion channels gated by γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, histamine, or changes in pH, and three are putative ACh‐gated cation channels. Spiders have a variety of mechanosensilla and proprioceptive organs that are innervated by efferents in their peripherally located parts, and efferents also innervate muscle fibers. We investigated Cys‐loop gene expression in muscle tissue by qPCR and localized this expression in mechanosensilla via in situ hybridization. The cuticular mechanosensory neurons had only CsGABArdl and CspHCl2 subunits, whereas the muscle tissue expressed a wider variety of subunits, especially CsGABAgrd, CsGABAAβ, CsGluCl1 and CspHCl, but very low levels of the CsGABArdl or CsnACh subunits. An nACh non‐α subunit was expressed in a group of unidentified cells in the hypodermis and at low level in the muscle tissue, but the physiological function of this subunit is unknown. The CsnAChα subunit was not expressed in sensory neurons and was expressed at extremely low level in the muscle tissue. None of the probes gave signals in proprioceptive joint receptors, suggesting that efferent innervation to this sense organ employs other receptor types. CsAChBP and a glia‐specific homeodomain CsREPO were both expressed in glial cells that surround sensory neurons and also in muscle tissue, probably around the nerve endings of the neuromuscular junction. These locations have large numbers of synapses, suggesting that AChBP may have a function in modulating synaptic transmission. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:1139–1154, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. In situ hybridization was used to investigate Cys‐loop receptor subunit expression in the spider Cupiennius salei. GABArdl and pHCl subunits were the only receptor subunits expressed in all cuticular mechanosensory neurons. AChBP, which has not previously been found in any arthropod species, was expressed exclusively in glial cells surrounding the sensory neurons.