title: Immunohistochemical characterization of NPY and substance P containing nerve terminals in aged and diabetic human sympathetic ganglia.
abstract: To compare the neuropeptide specificity of dystrophic axon formation in aging versus diabetic human sympathetic ganglia we have immunohistochemically characterized neuropeptide Y (NPY) and substance P containing intraganglionic nerve terminals. Prevertebral superior mesenteric but not paravertebral superior cervical ganglia developed markedly swollen NPY containing axonal termini with both aging and diabetes. Substance P containing nerve terminals failed to develop dystrophic changes. Selective loss of classes of nerve terminals may result in discrete functional sequellae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dorsey
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000473:pathology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis*; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D013373:Substance P