GAP-43 persists in adulthood and coexists with SP and CGRP in human trigeminal sensory neurones.
Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the occurrence and colocalization of the growth-associated protein GAP-43 with substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the human trigeminal ganglion and sensory nucleus at perinatal and adult life stages. The results obtained show that: GAP-43-like immunoreactive (LI) material persists in trigeminal primary sensory neurones of the normal adult; the GAP-43-LI ganglionic population partially overlaps with those immunoreactive to SP and CGRP; the distribution pattern of the protein in the spinal nucleus varies with age; in the adult subnucleus caudalis GAP-43 is co-distributed with SP and CGRP. It is suggested that the trigeminal GAP-43-LI neuronal system may retain the capacity for structural and functional plasticity in adult life.
Del Fiacco
M
M
Dipartimento di Citomorfologia, University of Cagliari, Italy.
Quartu
M
M
Priestley
J V
JV
Setzu
M D
MD
Lai
M L
ML
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D014278:Trigeminal Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D006133:Growth Substances; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D013373:Substance P; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide