Immunodetection of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript in the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum of the sheep.
Enteric nerves harbour a wide array of neuropeptides playing a key role in the regulation of gastrointestinal tract functions. In this study, the distribution patterns of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript-immunoreactive (CART-IR) nerve fibres as well as the percentages of CART-positive enteric neurons were immunohistochemically assessed in the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum of the sheep. Double staining were applied, to elucidate whether neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P (SP), somatostatin or serotonin co-exist in CART-IR gastric structures. In the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum, a majority of myenteric neurons identified by immunoreactivity to Hu C/D were CART-positive (47.1 +/- 3.6%, 45.1 +/- 3.0%, 41.6 +/- 2.6% and 40.9 +/- 2.9% respectively). The smooth musculature of the forestomachs as well as abomasum was innervated with numerous CART-IR nerve fibres. Blood vessels-associated CART-positive nerve terminals were identified in the submucosa of the reticulum only. Lamina muscularis mucosae of the omasum and abomasum was moderately innervated with CART-IR nerve terminals. In the abomasum sparse CART-IR nerve fibres were seen between mucosal glands. A small population of endocrine cells of the abomasum also exhibited the presence of CART. All neuronal elements as well as endocrine cells IR to CART were negative to somatostatin and/or serotonin. No immunoreactivity to VIP, NPY and/or SP was found in myenteric ganglia-projecting CART-positive nerve fibres. The co-localization of CART with VIP, NPY and/or SP was regularly observed in myenteric neurons as well as the smooth muscle layer- and lamina muscularis mucosae-projecting nerve fibres. CART-IR nerve terminals located between mucosal glands of the abomasum frequently co-stored VIP, NPY and/or SP. Although the exact function of CART in the ovine forestomachs/stomach has to be elucidated, several potential functions (like enteric nerves protection) have been suggested.
Arciszewski
M B
MB
Department of Animal Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland. mb.arciszewski@wp.pl
Barabasz
S
S
Skobowiat
C
C
Maksymowicz
W
W
Majewski
M
M
D000018:Abomasum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012417:Rumen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000098882:Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein; D000661:Amphetamine; D003042:Cocaine