Ultrastructural localisation of ATP-gated P2X2 receptor immunoreactivity in vascular endothelial cells in rat brain

In this report, we show for the first time that P2X(2) receptors - ATP-gated cation channels can be demonstrated in endothelial cells of small cerebral vessels of rat. Immunoreactivity to P2X2 receptors was visualised at the ultrastructural level with electron-immunocytochemistry (ExtrAvidin-horseradish peroxidase technique) using a polyclonal antibody against the fragment of an intracellular domain of the receptor. The possibilities that these receptors may reg ulate the formation of gap and/or tight junctions between adjacent endothelial cells influencing the blood-brain barrier, or modulate the contractility of capillary endothelial cells are discussed.