title: Rapid increase in enzyme and peptide mRNA in sympathetic ganglia after electrical stimulation in humans.
abstract: Thoracic ganglia in humans were studied after electrical, preganglionic stimulation using in situ hybridization with synthetic oligonucleotide probes against the catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (EC 1.14.16.2) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.17.1) and neuropeptide tyrosine. Immunohistochemical analysis was also performed. Following short peroperative stimulation a severalfold increase in all three mRNAs was found in principal ganglion cells, whereas no definite changes could be detected in enzyme or peptide levels with immunohistochemistry. The results suggest a very rapid and sensitive regulation of genes involved in signal transmission in the sympathetic nervous system of humans. Moreover, they indicate that electrical stimulation of neurons and/or pathways combined with in situ hybridization may be used as a method to define neuronal projections by visualizing increases in mRNAs for transmitter enzymes and/or peptide in target cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schalling
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Stieg
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindquist
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hökfelt
mesh_terms: D001345:Autoradiography; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase