title: Immunohistochemical characterization of superior cervical ganglion neurons supplying porcine parotid salivary gland.
abstract: The main goal of our study was to investigate the chemical coding of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) sympathetic neurons supplying the porcine parotid gland. Additionally, the chemical nature of the vicinal nerve fibers surrounding the parotid SCG perikarya was investigated. Fast blue (FB) retrograde tracing of the parotid gland and immunofluorescent labelling of SCG neurons were studied in juvenile female pigs. Microscopic analysis revealed that only ipsilateral SCG neurons were retrogradely labelled. The labelled neurons formed a discrete cluster in the middle and caudal region of the ganglion. Immunofluorescent labelling revealed that virtually all of the FB-positive parotid gland neurons were immunoreactive to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), confirming their sympathetic nature. In addition to TH, the majority of the FB-positive neurons were found to be immunoreactive to calbindin (CB) and to a lesser extent for neuropeptide Y (NPY), leu-enkephalin (LENK) and galanin (GAL). In the close proximity of the FB-traced perikarya, a large number of immunoreactive (IR) vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP-IR), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP-IR), nitric oxide synthase (NOS-IR) processes were identified. Moreover, calcitonin gene related peptide-immunoreactive (CGRP-IR), substance P-immunoreactive (SP-IR), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT-IR), calretinin (CRT-IR), GAL-IR, LENK-IR and CB-IR protrusions were observed. The results of the present study provide a detailed characteristic of the location and neurochemical coding of sympathetic SCG neurons innervating the parotid salivary gland of the pig and lay ground for more advanced, clinical studies on salivary gland innervations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland. Joanna.Wojtkiewicz@uwm.edu.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wojtkiewicz
authors.forename: Judyta K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Juranek
authors.forename: Ireneusz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bladowski
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Całka
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majewski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000294:innervation*; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents