Coexistence of calbindin D-28k and NADPH-diaphorase in vagal and glossopharyngeal sensory neurons of the rat.
The presence and coexistence of calbindin D-28k-immunoreactivity (ir) and nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase activity (a marker of neurons that are presumed to convert L-arginine to L-citrulline and nitric oxide) were examined in the glossopharyngeal and vagal sensory ganglia (jugular, petrosal and nodose ganglia) of the rat. Calbindin D-28k-ir nerve cells were found in moderate and large numbers in the petrosal and nodose ganglia, respectively. Some calbindin D-28k-ir nerve cells were also observed in the jugular ganglion. NADPH-diaphorase positive nerve cells were localized to the jugular and nodose ganglia and were rare in the petrosal ganglion. A considerable portion (33-51%) of the NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in these ganglia colocalized calbindin D-28k-ir. The presence and colocalization of calbindin D-28k-ir and NADPH-diaphorase activity in neurotransmitter-identified subpopulations of visceral sensory neurons were also studied. In all three ganglia, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-ir was present in many NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons, a subset of which also contained calbindin D-28k-ir. In the nodose ganglion, many (42%) of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-ir neurons also contained NADPH diaphorase activity but did not contain calbindin D-28k-ir. These data are consistent with a potential co-operative role for calbindin D-28k and NADPH-diaphorase in the functions of a subpopulation of vagal and glossopharyngeal sensory neurons.
Second Department of Oral Anatomy, Okayama University Dental School, Japan.
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Ichikawa
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CJ
Helke
D000818:Animals; D064026:Calbindins; D017950:Ganglia, Sensory / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G / Q000378:metabolism*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D064026:Calbindins; D064030:S100 Calcium Binding Protein G; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase