title: Immunohistochemical demonstration of choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive preganglionic nerve fibers in guinea pig autonomic ganglia.
abstract: The distribution of choline acetyltransferase (ChoAcTase)-like immunoreactivity in the superior cervical ganglion and the stellate ganglion was analyzed with immunohistochemistry. A dense network of ChoAcTase-immunoreactive nerve fibers was observed in both ganglia studied. The ChoAcTase-positive fibers were found in all parts of the ganglia but had a differential distribution, giving rise to a patchy staining pattern. After preganglionic denervation of the superior cervical ganglia, all ChoAcTase-positive fibers disappeared. For comparison, the distributions of enkephalin- and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity were analyzed. In the stellate ganglion, the enkephalin-positive fibers had a marked regional distribution. Areas with the highest enkephalin-fiber density seemed to contain low numbers of ChoAcTase-positive fibers and vice versa. The findings give evidence for occurrence of acetylcholine synthesis in preganglionic fibers in paravertebral sympathetic ganglia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindh
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Staines
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hökfelt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terenius
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Salvaterra
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001339:Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic / Q000201:enzymology*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000032:analysis; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000201:enzymology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D000109:Acetylcholine