title: Sparse substance P-like immunoreactivity in intervertebral discs. Nerve fibers and endings in the rat.
abstract: I studied rat lumbar intervertebral discs using a monoclonal antibody to substance P, which revealed immunoreactivity in the periosteum and ligaments adjacent to the intervertebral disc. Fibers containing substance P-like immunoreactivity were also found penetrating and terminating within the annulus fibrosus of both the anterior and posterior intervertebral disc. The maximum depth of penetration was 5 lamellae (annular rings) or approximately one sixth of the depth of the annulus. The terminal structures were not encapsulated (free-nerve endings) and were either branched, looped or both. The majority of fibers were varicose in appearance. Substance P-like immunoreactivity was very minor.
authors.affiliation: Anglo-European College of Chiropractic, Dorset, U.K.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012898:Autacoids / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000737:chemistry*; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000737:chemistry; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D012898:Autacoids; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; C016116:substance P-like peptides