Substance P immunoreactive sensory nerves supply the rat iris and cornea.
The presence, distribution and origin of substance P immunoreactive axons in the rat iris and cornea were investigated in whole mount preparations. A dense network of substance P immunoreactive axons was found throughout the iris but not in the ciliary body. In the cornea, substance P immunoreactive axons were found in the substantia propria, in the subepithelial layer and in the corneal epithelium. Following electrocoagulation of the ophthalmic nerve, most of the substance P immunoreactive axons in the iris and cornea disappeared. No changes in the substance P immunoreactive axons occurred after removal of the superior cervical ganglion. It is concluded that the iris and the cornea are supplied by sensory nerves containing substance P immunoreactivity.
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000032:analysis*; D003315:Cornea / Q000294:innervation*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007498:Iris / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000166:cytology; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D013373:Substance P