Ultrastructural localization of angiotensin II-like immunoreactivity (A II-LI) in the vegetative networks of the spinal cord of the guinea pig.
The localization of angiotensin II-like immunoreactivity (A II-LI) has been studied at an ultrastructural level in the thoracic and sacral spinal cord vegetative regions of male and female guinea pigs. Most of the AII-LI structures are axon terminals and fibers localized in both vegetative networks which connect bilaterally and cranio-caudally and/or caudo-cranially the preganglionic vegetative nuclei in the thoracic and sacral spinal cord intermediate zone. The A II-LI product is localized predominantly in large granular and small vesicles of axon terminals and varicosites which form axo-somatic, axo-dendritic and axo-axonal synapses. Occasionally A II-LI is observed over cysterns of the endoplasmatic reticulum and throughout the cytoplasm of astrocytes which are neighbouring on blood vessels and are in contact with neuronal processi. Immunoreactive terminals are observed in direct contacts with endothelial cells too. These observations confirm recently described light-microscopic localization of Ang II-LI in the studied spinal cord areas, as well as its suggested role as transmitter and/or modulator of the neuronal function and regulatory role over the cardiovascular function and blood circulation.
Galabov
P G
PG
Regeneration Research Laboratory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000294:innervation*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006706:Homeostasis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000804:Angiotensin II