title: Brain natriuretic peptide in the porcine spinal cord: an immunohistochemical investigation of its localization and the comparison with atrial natriuretic peptide, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and enkephalin.
abstract: Immunohistochemistry was used to localize brain natriuretic peptide in the porcine spinal cord and to compare it with that of atrial natriuretic peptide, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide and [Met]enkephalin. Brain natriuretic peptide-immunoreactive varicose fibers were observed in lamina I and the inner portion of lamina II of the dorsal horn. Semiquantitative analysis showed that the highest density of brain natriuretic peptide-immunoreactive varicosities was in the lumbosacral and coccygeal segments. The distributional pattern of brain natriuretic peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the spinal cord was unique and quite distinct from that of the other neuropeptides studied. These neuroanatomical findings suggest that brain natriuretic peptide may play a role in the regulation of nociceptive processing in the spinal cord, either alone or with bioactive substances.
authors: Department of Anatomy, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kawata
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hirakawa
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kumamoto
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Minamino
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kangawa
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Matsuo
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Sano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D013373:Substance P; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide