title: Characterization of nitrergic neurons in the porcine and human ciliary nerves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To further characterize a subpopulation of choroidal ganglion cells associated with the ciliary nerves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isolated long ciliary nerves of porcine and human eyes containing ciliary nerve-associated ganglion cells (CNGCs) were embedded in Epon for ultrastructural investigation, or wholemounts were stained with antibodies against nitric oxide synthase (NOS), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), vesicular acetylcholine transporter, neuropeptide Y (NPY), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), and synaptophysin. In addition, wholemount preparations of the choroid and of the anterior segment were stained for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-D). Serial sections through choroid and anterior segment were stained with the prior antibodies listed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the porcine choroid only CNGCs were present. They stained for brain (b)NOS and VIP and were surrounded by SP and VIP-immunoreactive (IR) nerve terminals. The axonal processes of the CNGCs followed the ciliary nerves to the anterior eye segment, where they formed a nerve fiber plexus that terminated in the trabecular meshwork. None of the axons passed into the sparse NOS-IR nerve fiber plexus surrounding the choroidal vasculature. The CNGCs in the human choroid morphologically resembled those seen in the pig.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CNGC proportion of choroidal ganglion cells is presumably involved in the intrinsic (peripheral) innervation of the aqueous outflow tissues and of the choroid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy II, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Universitaetsstrasse 19, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: C Albrecht
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Anne V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheib
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lütjen-Drecoll
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000294:innervation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D017950:Ganglia, Sensory / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; C493459:SLC18A3 protein, human; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; C496320:NOS1 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide