title: Regional distribution of mast cells and peptide containing nerves in normal and adjuvant arthritic rat synovium.
abstract: Simultaneous visualization of nerves and mast cells in the rat synovium was possible with double staining. Thus, a direct comparison could be made of nerves and mast cells in the ankle joints of healthy rats and in those with severe adjuvant induced polyarthritis. Nerves were studied with avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) immunostaining, using heterologous antisera to protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), a recently discovered neural protein, and the neuropeptides substance P and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP). Mast cells were visualized by metachromatic staining of granule heparin. With double staining of sections, a parallel distribution of mast cells and nerves in all parts of the normal synovium was noted. In rats with adjuvant induced arthritis, a near total parallel disappearance of mast cells and nerves in the synovium occurred. In the arthritic rat such mast cell/nerve "units" were only present in the region where synovium attaches to bone. The observed regional depletion of both nerves and mast cells in arthritis may be of importance in the pathophysiology of arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hukkanen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grönblad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Kottinen
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hietanen
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Polak
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brewerton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D013373:Substance P; D006493:Heparin; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide