Comparison of mRNA Expression of P2X Receptor Subtypes in Different Arterial Tissues of Rats

This study aims to compare the expression of P2X receptor subtype mRNA in different arterial tissues of rats. After the rats were sacrificed, the internal carotid, pulmonary, thoracic aorta, mesenteric and caudal arteries were dissected out. Then, the P2X receptor mRNA expression in different blood vessels was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The P2X1, P2X4 and P2X7 receptor mRNA amplification products revealed specific bands of the same size as the amplified target fragment in their respective lanes, while the P2X2, P2X3, P2X5 and P2X6 receptor mRNA amplification products did not reveal significant specific bands in their respective lanes by RT-PCR. Based on the P2X1 receptor mRNA expression of the mesenteric artery, there were no significant differences in the internal carotid, pulmonary and thoracic aorta (0.64 ± 0.07, 0.17 ± 0.11 and 1.49 ± 0.65, respectively). However, the P2X1 receptor mRNA expression level in the caudal artery significantly increased (11.06 ± 1.99, P 0.05). The P2X7 receptor mRNA expression level was significantly different: pulmonary artery