NPY/sympathetic and NPY/VIP innervation of the blood vessels supplying rat tooth-related structures: effects of sympathectomy.
In order to better understand the regulation of blood flow to tooth-related structures, the patterns of VIP- and NPY-ergic innervations in the rat were examined. Nerve fibers showing NPY-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) frequently occurred in the walls of the large main arteries, as well as in association with the arterioles, to a high degree co-existing with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), whereas VIP-LI was mainly restricted to the walls of the large arteries. After sympathectomy, no NPY/TH-LI nerve fibers were seen in blood vessel walls. However, a NPY-immunoreactive nerve population remained in the walls of the large arteries, NPY- and VIP-LI co-existing in this nerve population. Both immunoreactions were intense. The present study suggests that a NPY/sympathetic innervation as well as a VIP innervation (large arteries) are likely to have substantial roles in the balance and maintenance of vasoregulation in tooth-related structures and that a NPY/VIP innervation becomes of particular importance when the NPY/sympathetic innervation is destroyed.
Norevall
L
L
Department of Orthodontics, Umea University, Sweden.
Forsgren
S
S
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000294:innervation; D015415:Biomarkers; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013562:Sympathectomy; D014070:Tooth / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide