title: Distribution, ontogeny and projections of cholecystokinin-8, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gamma-aminobutyrate-containing neuron systems in the rat spinal cord: an immunohistochemical analysis.
abstract: The distribution, ontogeny and fiber projections of cholecystokinin-8, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and gamma-aminobutyrate-containing neuronal systems in the rat spinal cord were investigated by means of immunocytochemistry. Immunoreactive fibers to cholecystokinin-8, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and glutamate decarboxylase (gamma-aminobutyrate-synthesizing enzyme, used as a marker of gamma-aminobutyrate) were widely distributed in the spinal cord, being particularly concentrated in the superficial dorsal horn, suggesting a close relationship to the pain transmission system. Cholecystokinin-8-containing neurons were mostly distributed in the dorsal laminae and glutamate decarboxylase-containing neurons were distributed in both the dorsal and ventral horns. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing neurons were detected in the lateral spinal nucleus and the lamina X. Cholecystokinin-8 and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactive structures first appeared on gestational day 17-18. Although no substantial change in immunoreactive structures was observed during the fetal period, they increased markedly after birth. On the other hand, glutamate decarboxylase-positive structures appeared at gestational day 16 and those in the grey matter reached a maximum content at birth; both groups were present in adult animals. Transection of the upper cervical cord resulted in accumulations of cholecystokinin-8 and glutamate decarboxylase rostral to the lesion, revealing the presence of supraspinal projections of cholecystokinin-8 and glutamate decarboxylase to the spinal cord. The same experimental procedure demonstrated the existence of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-mediating neuronal projections to the supraspinal level, as the accumulating fibers occurred in the area caudal to the lesion.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D051381:Rats; D012844:Sincalide / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; D012844:Sincalide