Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and acetylcholine coexist with neuropeptide Y, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase, substance P or calcitonin gene-related peptide in neuronal subpopulations in cranial parasympathetic ganglia of rat

Summary, in English

Immunohistochemistry has been used to demonstrate that neuropeptide Y, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, calcitonin gene-related peptide or substance P are colocalized with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and choline acetyltransferase in subpopulations of neurons in cranial parasympathetic ganglia of rat. These comprise the ciliary, sphenopalatine, otic, glossopharyngeal-vagal and internal carotid ganglia. In the ciliary and glossopharyngeal-vagal ganglia tyrosine hydroxylase is also found in such neurons. The findings emphasize that the combined localization of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and neuropeptide Y or the presence of tyrosine hydroxylase is not exclusively a marker for peripheral adrenergic neurons. Further, the co-localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P is not a decisive indication that a neuron is sensory in nature. It is discussed whether the presence of the enzymes and peptides other than vasoactive intestinal polypeptide is a remnant of a different expression during ontogenesis or indicates target-specific functions in the adult.

• Author: J E Hardebo; N Suzuki; E Ekblad; Christer Owman
• Department/s: Drug Target Discovery
• Publishing year: 1992
• Language: English
• Pages: 291-300
• Publication/Series: Cell and Tissue Research
• Volume: 267
• Issue: 2
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Springer
• Topic: Cell Biology
• Status: Published
• Research group: Drug Target Discovery
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1432-0878