Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in human sympathetic ganglia.
The localization of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SOM-LI) was examined in human lumbar sympathetic ganglia using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Few of the principal neurons showed immunolabelling for somatostatin and sparse networks of nerve terminals were unevenly associated with ganglion cells. Using light microscopy, the most intense SOM-LI was seen in the perinuclear zone of the neurons. Electron-microscopically, the staining was localized on the membranes of the Golgi apparatuses. In the nerve terminals, SOM-LI was seen inside the small vesicles (40-60 nm diameter). All neurons with SOM-LI were also found to be tyrosine-hydroxylase immunoreactive when examined with a double-staining technique. These results provide evidence that somatostatin and noradrenaline co-exist in human sympathetic neurons.
D005260:Female; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis*
D013004:Somatostatin