Co-localization of μ-opioid receptor-like immunoreactivity with substance P-LI, calcitonin gene-related peptide-LI and nitric oxide synthase-LI in vagal and glossopharyngeal afferent neurons of the rat

• Published in: Brain research 1998-05, Vol.792 (1), p.149-153
• Main Authors: Ding, Yu-Qiang, Li, Jin-Lian, Lü, Bao-Zhen, Wang, Dan, Miao-Li Zhang, Li, Ji-Shuo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Calcitonin gene-related peptide; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - metabolism; Coexistence; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Ganglia - enzymology; Ganglia - metabolism; Glossopharyngeal Nerve - cytology; Glossopharyngeal Nerve - enzymology; Glossopharyngeal Nerve - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; Jugular ganglion; Neurons, Afferent - enzymology; Neurons, Afferent - metabolism; Nitric oxide synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism; Nodose ganglion; Peripheral nervous system. Autonomic nervous system. Neuromuscular transmission. Ganglionic transmission. Electric organ; Petrosal ganglion; Rat; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Receptors, Opioid, mu - metabolism; Substance P; Substance P - metabolism; Vagus Nerve - cytology; Vagus Nerve - enzymology; Vagus Nerve - metabolism; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; μ-Opioid receptor
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-8993(98)00205-4

Co-localization of μ-opioid receptor (MOR)-like immunoreactivity (-LI) with substance P (SP)-LI, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-LI and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-LI in the nodose, petrosal and jugular ganglia was examined in the rat by a double immunofluorescence histochemical method. About 0.6%, 41% and 95% of neurons with MOR-LI, respectively, in the nodose, petrosal and jugular ganglia showed SP-LI; about 2%, 51% and 66% of MOR-like immunoreactive neurons displayed CGRP-LI in the nodose, petrosal and jugular ganglia, respectively. In addition, about 59% of MOR-like immunoreactive neurons in the nodose ganglia displayed NOS-LI, whereas no NOS-LI was detected in the petrosal or jugular ganglion. These data provide evidence for co-localization of MOR-LI with SP-LI, CGRP-LI and NOS-LI in the vagal and glossopharyngeal afferent neurons, and suggest that MOR may regulate the release of SP, CGRP and nitric oxide from the visceral primary afferent terminals in the nucleus of the solitary tract of the rat.