title: Neurotransmitters in parasympathetic ganglionic neurons and nerves in mouse lower airway smooth muscle.
abstract: In most species, including humans, lower airway smooth muscle (ASM) contains nerve terminals from two distinct populations of parasympathetic ganglionic neurons based on neurotransmitter phenotype: cholinergic and non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC), causing contraction and relaxation, respectively, of ASM. Using immunohistological staining, the density and distribution of NANC-associated neurotransmitters, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and nitric oxide synthase were 6% of total nerve profiles compared to 19% cholinergic nerves in ASM in mouse (C57BL/6) central airways. The location of the NANC parasympathetic neurons innervating the tracheal ASM, as determined by retrograde neuronal tracer from the trachealis muscle, was the myenteric plexus of the esophagus, closely associated with the outer striated longitudinal muscle layers; the majority of the retrograde-labeled neurons were VIP- and NOS-IR. The results of these experiments provide the first direct evidence that VIP-IR and NOS-IR neurons intrinsic to the mouse esophagus project axons to the adjacent trachealis muscle.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovak Republic. Electronic address: balentova@jfmed.uniba.sk.
authors.forename: Sona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balentova
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Conwell
authors.forename: Allen C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004947:Esophagus / Q000294:innervation; D005726:Ganglia, Parasympathetic / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000166:cytology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014132:Trachea / Q000294:innervation*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase
keywords: Autonomic; Bronchi; Cholinergic; Nitric oxide; Trachea; Vasoactive intestinal peptide