title: Immunohistochemical study on the distribution of galanin-containing nerves in the chicken pancreas.
abstract: The distribution of galanin-containing nervous elements in the chicken pancreas was investigated by use of immunohistochemical method. Galanin-immunoreactive nerve fibres formed a perivascular plexus and a dense network in the subepithelial layer of secretory ducts. The muscle layers of secretory ducts were also supplied with galanin-immunoreactive nerve fibres. The exocrine pancreas received a supply of varicose nerve fibres showing galanin immunoreactivity. In the endocrine part, B-islets were innervated by galanin-immunoreactive nerve fibres, whereas A-islets received fewer nervous elements. Double staining combined with the immunofluorescence method for galanin and acetylcholinesterase histochemistry showed at least two types of ganglion cells in the interlobular connective tissue; one showing both acetylcholinesterase activity and galanin immunoreactivity, and the other showing acetylcholinesterase activity only. The present results demonstrate that the chicken pancreas is innervated by galanin-containing nerves of intrinsic origin and suggest that galanin coexists with acetylcholine in the chicken pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Functional Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Nagano-ken, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohshima
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001710:Biotin; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D019004:Galanin; D005724:Ganglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010179:Pancreas / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D019809:Streptavidin
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D001710:Biotin; D019004:Galanin; D019809:Streptavidin; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000109:Acetylcholine