Innervation of the rat pineal gland by PACAP-immunoreactive nerve fibers originating in the trigeminal ganglion: a degeneration study.
In order to establish that the pineal gland is innervated by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-immunoreactive nerve fibers originating in the trigeminal ganglion, ophthalmic and maxillary nerves were transected by using a subtemporal fossa approach. The number of PACAP-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the pineal gland of rats with a total transection of the nerve was compared with that of rats without surgery. In the operated rat, PACAP-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the superficial pineal decreased remarkably, indicating that the trigeminal ganglion was the origin of these nerve fibers. This research provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that PACAP-immunoreactive nerves regulate the synthesis and/or secretion of melatonin in the pineal gland.
Liu
W
W
ENT Department, Pearl River Hospital, Guangzhou, PR China. lwei@fimmu.edu.cn
Møller
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015171:Ganglionectomy; D008297:Male; D008442:Maxillary Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D009882:Ophthalmic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000601:surgery
C495403:Adcyap1 protein, rat; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D008550:Melatonin