Immunohistochemical localization of carbonic anhydrase isozymes in the rat carotid body.
The rat carotid body was immunohistochemically stained for carbonic anhydrase I, II and III (CA-I, CA-II and CA-III). Immunoreactivity for CA-I was distributed in type I cells, type II cells and nerve bundles. Smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells of blood vessels were also strongly stained for CA-I. CA-II immunoreactivity was distinctly positive in type I cells and nerve bundles. Vascular smooth muscle cells were weakly positive, and type II cells were negative for CA-II. CA-III immunoreactivity was identified in type I cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Our results suggest that carbonic anhydrase isozymes in type I cells play an important role in chemoreception for hypercapnia. Immunoreactivities for CA-I and CA-II in the nerve fibres may participate in the synergic action of carotid sinus nerve between hypoxic and hypercapnic stimuli.
Yamamoto
Yoshio
Y
Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan. yyoshio@iwate-u.ac.jp
Fujimura
Minako
M
Nishita
Toshiho
T
Nishijima
Kazutoshi
K
Atoji
Yasuro
Y
Suzuki
Yoshitaka
Y
D000818:Animals; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases / Q000032:analysis*; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D007527:Isoenzymes; D002256:Carbonic Anhydrases