Edinger-Westphal neurons that project to spinal cord contain substance P.
Combined retrograde transport and immunocytochemical methods were used to determine whether Edinger-Westphal neurons projecting to spinal cord also demonstrate substance P-like immunoreactivity (SPLI). Large injections of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into cervical and lumbar enlargements retrogradely labeled cells throughout the length of the Edinger-Westphal complex (EW). Nearly all HRP-labeled EW neurons also stained for SPLI, evidence that EW is the origin of a direct substance P pathway linking rostral mesencephalon with spinal cord.
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002535:Cerebral Aqueduct / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009802:Oculomotor Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*
D013373:Substance P