Effects of irradiation on neuropeptide expression in rat salivary gland and spinal cord

Abstract

It is well-known that a large number of factors can influence the expression of neuropeptides in the nervous system. In the present study, the effects of unilateral and bilateral irradiation to the rat head and neck on the expression of neuropeptides in the innervation of the submandibular gland and in the ganglionic cells of the submandibular ganglion was examined ten days and six months after treatment. Antisera directed against enkephalin and bombesin and immunohistochemical methods were used. The effects of bilateral irradiation on the staining pattern of various neuropeptides in the cervical spinal cord were also studied. In the submandibular gland and in the submandibular ganglionic cells, there was a markedly increased neuropeptide expression ten days after bilateral treatment, as seen after staining with both antisera used, while no changes occurred after unilateral treatment. Six months after treatment, the pattern of neuropeptide expression in the submandibular gland/ganglion corresponded to that seen in controls. Irradiation did not lead to any changes in the staining pattern of neuropeptides in the spinal cord. The observations show that there is a great complexity in the susceptibility of nervous tissues to radiotherapy with respect to influences on the expression of neuropeptides.

Short- and Long-term Effects of Irradiation on Laryngeal Mucosa of the Rat

“…However, at least with regard to the patterns of neuropeptide expression, it seems that certain targets are affected. Thus, other structures encompassed by the irradiation in the present study as the nodose and superior cervical ganglia and spinal cord have previously been shown not to display any changes in the pattern of neuropeptide immunoreactivity (3,18). proteins predominate in electron-lucent/dense areas of the granules (23).…”

Main Sensory Neuropeptides, but not VIP and NPY, Are Involved in Bone Remodeling during Orthodontic Tooth Movement in the Rata

“…The characteristics of all these antibodies have been described in previous studies. 12,13 As the BN‐antiserum to some extent crossreacts with SP, 13 this antiserum was always preabsorbed with SP before incubation on the sections. Specific immunoreaction with BN‐antiserum preabsorbed in this way was obtained in the control tissue used (rat larynx) (not shown).…”

Initial increase and subsequent loss of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity in acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons of mouse islets transplanted to the kidney

“…Reversibility of enhanced neuropeptide expression has been described in several experimental systems (e.g., Villar et al 1989;Zhang et al 1993;Forsgren et al 1994). In the present study, after 1 week the grafts exhibited no VIP-LI nerve cell bodies and a clearly decreased number of VIP-LI fibers.…”