Distribution of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) immunoreactivity in the thoracic spinal cord of guinea pig.
The localization of thyrotropin-releasing hormone immunoreactivity (TRH-IR) has been determined in the thoracic spinal cord of male and female guinea pigs. The immunoreactive product is localized in nerve fibre varicosites and terminals throughout the spinal gray matter and in some regions of the white matter. There are not TRH-IR neurons in the spinal cord. The highest density of IR structures is observed in the intermediate zone, in the central gray and in the ventral horns, around the motoneurons. Less TRH-IR structures are observed in the superficial layers and substantia gelatinosa of the dorsal horns. Between the ependymal cells of the central canal are observed single TRH-IR fibres and terminals too. Most of the TRH-IR fibres and terminals in the intermediate zone and in the central gray are constituents of the vegetative network (Galabov and Davidoff, 1976 and Davidoff et al. 1985). As to the origin of the spinal cord TRH-IR fibres and terminals two main possibilities exist: a) From primary afferent neurons situated in the dorsal root ganglia, which is quite uncertain; b) From supraspinal neurons which send their axons descending in the white matter and in the fasciculi longitudinales laterales and mediales (Johansson et al. 1981, 1983). The wide diversity of neuroactive substances in the thoracic spinal cord vegetative network and the origin of its fibres and terminals suggests that this network may play an important role in the integration of the central and peripheral vegetative nervous system, as well as probably in the integration of the somatic and the vegetative nervous system.
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000276:immunology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology*; D013909:Thorax; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000276:immunology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone