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.
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.
Kawata
M
M
Department of Anatomy, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Hirakawa
M
M
Kumamoto
K
K
Minamino
N
N
Kangawa
K
K
Matsuo
H
H
Sano
Y
Y
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
D004745:Enkephalins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D013373:Substance P; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide