title: Ontogeny of nerves and neuropeptides in skin of rat: an immunocytochemical study.
abstract: The sequence of maturation of nerves and appearance of neuropeptides was investigated in skin from fetal and neonatal rats by immunocytochemistry using antisera to protein gene product 9.5, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Immunoreactivity for PGP 9.5 appeared on fetal day 16 in face and nose, somewhat later (fetal day 19) in paws and tail. The sensory neuropeptides, CGRP/substance P (fetal day 19 and postnatal day 1, respectively) appeared earlier than the autonomic peptides VIP and NPY (postnatal day 7). Thus, the study shows that neuropeptides do not appear simultaneously with nerves and that the development is rostrocaudal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Karanth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides