ARS | Publication request: Expression of zinc transporter ZnT7 in mouse superior cervical ganglion

Submitted to: Trade Journal Publication
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: April 7, 2008
Publication Date: June 1, 2008
Repository URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6VT5-4SJR2H9-1-7&_cdi=6281&_user=4421&_pii=S1566070208000611&_origin=search&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F2008&_sk=998599998&view=c&wchp=dGLbVlb-zSkzk&md5=f4f845679054674e79429adeefb8ffb6&ie=/sdarticle.pdf
Citation: Gao, H., Xu, H., Wang, X., Dahlstrom, A., Huang, L., Wang, Z. 2008. Expression of zinc transporter ZnT7 in mouse superior cervical ganglion. Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic & Clinical, 140 (2008) 59-65.

Interpretive Summary: The superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons that supply sympathetic innervation to the face contain a considerable amount of zinc ions. It is known that zinc transporter 7 (ZnT7, Slc30a7), a member of the Slc30 family, is involved in transporting zinc ions from the cytosol of the cell into the Golgi apparatus. In the present study, we examined the expression and localization of ZnT7 and labile zinc ions in the mouse SCG using immunohistochemistry, Western blot and in vivo zinc selenium autometallography (AMG). Our immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the ZnT7 immunoreactivity in the SCG neurons was predominately present in the perinuclear region of the neurons, suggesting an affiliation to the Golgi apparatus. The Western blot results verified that ZnT7 protein was expressed in the mouse SCGs. The AMG reaction product was shown to have a similar distribution to ZnT7 immunoreactivity. These observations support the notion that ZnT7 may participate in zinc transport, storage, and incorporation of zinc into zinc-binding proteins in the Golgi apparatus of mouse SCG neurons.

Technical Abstract: The superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons contain a considerable amount of zinc ions, but little is known about zinc homeostasis in the SCG. It is known that zinc transporter 7 (ZnT7, Slc30a7), a member of the Slc30 ZnT family, is involved in mobilizing zinc ions from the cytoplasm into the Golgi apparatus. In the present study, we examined the expression and localization of ZnT7 and labile zinc ions in the mouse SCG using immunohistochemistry, Western blot and in vivo zinc selenium autometallography (AMG). Our immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the ZnT7 immunoreactivity in the SCG neurons was predominately present in the perinuclear region of the neurons, suggesting an affiliation to the Golgi apparatus. The Western blot results verified that ZnT7 protein was expressed in the mouse SCGs. The AMG reaction product had a similar distribution to ZnT7 immunoreactivity. These observations support the notion that ZnT7 may participate in zinc transport, storage, and incorporation of zinc into zinc-binding proteins in the Golgi apparatus of mouse SCG neurons.