Nociceptin and its receptor in guinea-pig sympathetic ganglia.
The occurrence and distribution of nociceptin, a 17-amino acid peptide with structural similarity to dynorphin A, and its receptor, opioid receptor-like-1 (ORL1) receptor, were investigated in the guinea-pig sympathetic nervous system by means of immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Immunofluorescence revealed varicose nociceptin-immunoreactive axons and some paraganglionic cells in prevertebral (coeliaco-superior mesenteric, inferior mesenteric), but not in paravertebral (superior cervical, stellate, lumbar chain) sympathetic ganglia. Messenger RNA for the ORL1 receptor, however, was detected by RT-PCR in both para- and prevertebral ganglia. The findings suggest participation of the nociceptin/ORL1 receptor signalling pathway in processing of information within prevertebral ganglia, and a general responsiveness of sympathetic neurons to nociceptin.
Kummer
W
W
Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany. wolfgang.kummer@anatomie.med.uni-giessen.de
Fischer
A
A
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000737:chemistry*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000819:agonists* / Q000032:analysis*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor; D000097629:Nociceptin
D018847:Opioid Peptides; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D000094942:Nociceptin Receptor; D000097629:Nociceptin