title: Peripheral choline acetyltransferase in rat skin demonstrated by immunohistochemistry.
abstract: Conventional choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry has been used widely for visualizing central cholinergic neurons and fibers but not often for labeling peripheral structures, probably because of their poor staining. The recent identification of the peripheral type of choline acetyltransferase (pChAT) has enabled the clear immunohistochemical detection of many known peripheral cholinergic elements. Here, we report the presence of pChAT-immunoreactive nerve fibers in rat skin. Intensely stained nerve fibers were distributed in association with eccrine sweat glands, blood vessels, hair follicles and portions just beneath the epidermis. These results suggest that pChAT-positive nerves participate in the sympathetic cholinergic innervation of eccrine sweat glands. Moreover, pChAT also appears to play a role in cutaneous sensory nerve endings. These findings are supported by the presence of many pChAT-positive neuronal cells in the sympathetic ganglion and dorsal root ganglion. Thus, pChAT immunohistochemistry should provide a novel and unique tool for studying cholinergic nerves in the skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan. hanada-k@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanada
authors.forename: Saburo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bellier
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004439:Eccrine Glands / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000601:surgery; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000601:surgery; D015171:Ganglionectomy; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D056325:Neuronal Tract-Tracers; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000294:innervation*; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056325:Neuronal Tract-Tracers; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D013373:Substance P; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase