Occurrence of methionine-enkephalin-like immunoreactive cells in the feline vagus nerve.
The occurrence of peptidergic cellular elements in the feline vagus nerve was examined by an immunohistochemical method. Some methionine-enkephalin-like immunoreactive cells were present around a few capillaries within the vagus nerve, whereas substance-P- and vasoactive-intestinal-polypeptide-like immunoreactive cells were not observed. The methionine-enkephalin-like immunoreactive cells had an oval shape and their diameter was 7-10 micron. These cells appeared to be in contact with the pericyte of the capillaries. Though the physiological function of these enkephalin-positive cells is unclear, our findings suggest that they can act as endocrine cells and release methionine-enkephalin into the capillaries.
Maeda
S
S
Department of Pharmacology, Osaka University Faculty of Dentistry, Suita, Japan.
Ichikawa
H
H
Wakisaka
S
S
Akai
M
M
Inoki
R
R
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000276:immunology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D013373:Substance P / Q000276:immunology; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000276:immunology
D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine