Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and acetylcholine coexist with neuropeptide Y, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase, substance P or calcitonin gene-related peptide in neuronal subpopulations in cranial parasympathetic ganglia of rat.
Immunohistochemistry has been used to demonstrate that neuropeptide Y, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, calcitonin gene-related peptide or substance P are colocalized with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and choline acetyltransferase in subpopulations of neurons in cranial parasympathetic ganglia of rat. These comprise the ciliary, sphenopalatine, otic, glossopharyngeal-vagal and internal carotid ganglia. In the ciliary and glossopharyngeal-vagal ganglia tyrosine hydroxylase is also found in such neurons. The findings emphasize that the combined localization of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and neuropeptide Y or the presence of tyrosine hydroxylase is not exclusively a marker for peripheral adrenergic neurons. Further, the co-localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P is not a decisive indication that a neuron is sensory in nature. It is discussed whether the presence of the enzymes and peptides other than vasoactive intestinal polypeptide is a remnant of a different expression during ontogenesis or indicates target-specific functions in the adult.
Department of Medical Cell Research, University of Lund, Sweden.
J E
JE
Hardebo
N
N
Suzuki
E
E
Ekblad
C
C
Owman
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000032:analysis*; D005726:Ganglia, Parasympathetic / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000737:chemistry; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D000109:Acetylcholine