Expression of substance P and nitric oxide synthase in vagal sensory neurons innervating the mouse airways.
BACKGROUND
Airway sensory nerves have the capacity to release neuromediators such as substance P and nitric oxide to control airway functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate substance P and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS-1) expression in airway-specific sensory neurons.


METHODS
Airway-projecting neurons in the jugular-nodose ganglia were investigated for NOS-1 and substance P expression by neuronal tracing and double-labelling immunoreactivity.


RESULTS
Of the Fast blue labelled neurons, 14.6+/-1.8% (mean+/-S.E.M.) were immunoreactive only for NOS-1, 3.0+/-0.3% for NOS-1 and substance P, 2.7+/-0.3% only for substance P, and 79.7+/-1.7% of the labelled neurons were nonimmunoreactive for substance P or NOS-1 but were partly positive for I-B4-lectin-binding. Fast blue labelled NOS and/or substance P-positive neurons were small to medium sized (<20 microm).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the expression of substance P and nitric oxide synthase in airway neurons, the present study suggests that there may be substance P and NO biosynthesis and release following a peripheral activation of the afferents, there could be a triggering of substance P and NO-mediated phenomena, including those related to airway inflammation, such as plasma extravasation and vasodilatation.
Dinh
Q Thai
QT
Department of Internal Medicine, Charité School of Medicine, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. q-thai.dinh@charite.de
Groneberg
David A
DA
Peiser
Christian
C
Joachim
Ricarda A
RA
Frossard
Nelly
N
Arck
Petra C
PC
Klapp
Burghard F
BF
Fischer
Axel
A
D000578:Amidines; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000294:innervation*; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D009620:Nodose Ganglion / Q000502:physiology*; D013373:Substance P / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000578:Amidines; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C031455:diamidino compound 253-50; D013373:Substance P; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496321:Nos1 protein, mouse