Motoneurons of the stapedius muscle in the guinea pig middle ear: afferent and efferent transmitters.
The objective of the present study was to identify efferent and afferent transmitters of motoneurons of the stapedius muscle of the middle ear in order to gain more insight into the neuronal regulation of the muscle. To identify motoneurons, we injected the fluorescent neuronal tracer Fluorogold (FG) into the muscle after preparation of the middle ear in adult guinea pigs. Upon terminal uptake and retrograde neuronal transport, we observed FG in neurons located medial and ventral to the nucleus of the facial nerve ipsilateral to the injection site. Immunohistochemical studies of these motoneurons showed that the majority contains calcitonin gene-related peptide. Our data further demonstrate close spatial relationships of motoneurons to structures immunoreactive to either serotonin, substance P or neuronal nitric oxide and reveal that these neurons are under neuropeptidergic and nitrergic influence.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Saarstr. 19-21, D-55099 Mainz, Germany. reuss@uni-mainz.de
Stefan
S
Reuss
Sandy
S
Al-Butmeh
Randolf
R
Riemann
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006309:Hearing / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D026602:Nitrergic Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013198:Stapedius / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D013199:Stapes / Q000502:physiology; D013266:Stilbamidines; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism
C049774:2-hydroxy-4,4'-diamidinostilbene, methanesulfonate salt; D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D013266:Stilbamidines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012701:Serotonin; D013373:Substance P; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide