Role of the purinergic P2Y2 receptor in hippocampal function in mice

A. Alhowail, L.-X. Zhang, M. Buabeid, J.-Z. Shen, V. Suppiramaniam

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Al Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. aalhowail@qu.edu.sa

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the role of the purinergic P2Y2 receptor in learning and memory processes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Behavioral, electrophysiological, and biochemical tests of memory function were conducted in P2Y2 receptor knockout (P2Y2R-KO) mice, and the findings were compared to those of wild-type mice with the help of unpaired Student’s t-test.

RESULTS: The findings of the behavioral Y-maze test showed that the P2Y2R-KO mice had impaired memory and cognitive function. Electrophysiological studies on paired-pulse facilitation showed that glutamate release was higher in the P2Y2R-KO mice than in the WT mice. Furthermore, PCR and Western blot analysis revealed that the mRNA and protein expression of acetylcholinesterase E (AChE) and alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nAChRs) were increased in the hippocampus of P2Y2R-KO mice.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate that P2Y2 receptors are important regulators of both glutamatergic and cholinergic systems in the hippocampus.

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