title: Characteristics of distribution of peptide-containing nerve fibres in the atrioventricular valves of the rat.
abstract: The distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, neuropeptide Y-, and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibres was investigated in the atrioventricular valves of the rat. These nerve fibres were visualized by immunostaining of whole-mount preparations by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive nerve fibres were observed mainly in the anterior cusp of the mitral valve and, to a lesser extent, in the medial cusp of the tricuspid valve. Numerous neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive nerve fibres were found covering all of the cusps. Both types of peptidergic nerve fibre formed dense networks that consisted of interlacing and anastomosing nerve fibres. Calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerve fibres were seen in every cusp, but did not form a fine network. These results provide detailed anatomical information for evaluation of the possible roles of each type of peptide-containing nerve fibre in the function of atrioventricular valves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsumori
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Domoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide