Neuropeptide expression in the mouse vomeronasal organ during postnatal development.
The expression of selected regulatory neuropeptides was investigated by immunohistochemistry in nerves supplying the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of mice during postnatal development. Results show that neurons in the VNO are devoid of immunolabeling with any of the antibody used from 1 day to 2 months of age. In the non-receptor epithelium (NRE) and the vomeronasal vascular pump (VP) the timing of expression of regulatory neuropeptides differed among neuropeptides and the different VNO structures. Regulatory neuropeptides usually found in sensory nerves (substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide) and efferent nerves (neuropeptide Y, atrial natriuretic peptide) are expressed in the NRE and the VP, respectively. These results support the view that the VNO is to some extent functional during postnatal development.
Zancanaro
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C
University of Verona, Institute of Anatomy and Histology, Italy.
Mucignat-Caretta
C
C
Merigo
F
F
Osculati
F
F
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000032:analysis; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000737:chemistry; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000737:chemistry; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D013373:Substance P; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide