Development of the sigma-1 receptor in C-terminals of motoneurons and colocalization with the N,N′-dimethyltryptamine forming enzyme, indole-N-methyl transferase

The sigma-1 receptor (S1R) is linked to modulating ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors. In the central nervous system, S1R is expressed throughout but is especially enriched in mouse spinal motor neurons, where it localizes to subsurface cisternae of cholinergic postsynaptic densities called C-terminals. S1R first appears in the endoplasmic reticulum of mouse spinal motor neurons late in embryonic development and concentrates at C-terminals only during the second week after birth. The enzyme indole-N-methyl transferase (INMT), which produces the sigma-1 ligand dimethyltryptamine (DMT), is also found at postsynaptic sites of C-terminals near S1R, suggesting that DMT is synthesized locally to activate S1R in motor neurons.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The function of the sigma-1 receptor (S1R) has been linked to modulating the activities of ion channels and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). In the CNS, the S1R is expressed ubiquitously but is enriched in mouse motoneurons (MN), where it is localized to subsurface cisternae of cholinergic postsynaptic densities, also known as C-terminals. We found that S1R is enriched in mouse spinal MN at late stages of embryonic development when it is first visualized in the endoplasmic reticulum. S1Rs appear to concentrate at C-terminals of mouse MN only on the second week of postnatal development. We found that indole-N-methyl transferase (INMT), an enzyme that converts tryptamine into the sigma-1 ligand dimethyltryptamine (DMT), is also localized to postsynaptic sites of C-terminals in close proximity to the S1R. This close association of INMT and S1Rs suggest that DMT is synthesized locally to effectively activate S1R in MN.