Neurotransmitter candidates in the vomeronasal organ of the rat.
CONCLUSIONS
The rich supply of nerve fibres containing neurotransmitters, particularly those containing SP and CGRP, is suggested to be a prerequisite for the recognition of chemical irritants as part of a chemical sense.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to examine the distribution of different neurotransmitter candidates in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of rats.


METHODS
The distribution of neurotransmitter candidates was studied in the vomeronasal organ of the rat using immunocytochemistry.


RESULTS
The neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 revealed a very rich supply of nerve fibres within and beneath the sensory epithelium, around blood vessels and glands. A moderate supply of nerve fibres containing tyrosine hydroxylase and neuropeptide Y was mostly seen close to blood vessels. Numerous nerve fibres containing nitric oxide synthase and vasoactive intestinal peptide were seen around blood vessels and in the subepithelial layer, with occasional fibres within the epithelium. Only few fibres located in the subepithelial layer contained pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide. Nerve fibres containing substance P and in particular calcitonin gene-related peptide were abundant in and beneath the epithelium and scattered in the submucosal layers around blood vessels.
Uddman
Rolf
R
Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. Rolf.Uddman@med.lu.se
Malm
Lars
L
Cardell
Lars-Olaf
LO
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; C489034:UCHL1 protein, rat; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide