Neurochemical characteristics of paracervical ganglion in the pig

Abstract

ABSTRACT:A study on the presence of the selected biologically active substances in nerve structures of the paracervical ganglion in the pig was performed with the use of immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. Immunohistochemical methods revealed that 23% of paracervical ganglion (PCG) neurons contain both tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DβH) and that the remaining 77% contain choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT). 73% of TH/DβH neurons contained neuropeptide Y (NPY) and 8% contained somatostatin (Som). All ChAT/VAChT positive neurons contained vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), 87% of them contained Som, 76% contained NPY and 32% contained neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Galanin (Gal) was found only in small cells, which were thought to be SIF cells. No pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-or substance P (SP)-positive neurons were found in PCG. Some areas of PCG contained dense plexuses of ChAT-and VAChT-positive nerve fibres. In the ganglion small number of TH-, nNOS-, NPY-, VIP-, Gal-, PACAP-, Som-and SP-positive nerve fibres was also visible. RT-PCR detected the presence of mRNA for TH, ChAT, nNOS, NPY, VIP, Gal and Som, which were visualised as clearly discernible bands on a gel. In cases of PACAP and SP only weak bands were observed. Keywords: pig; paracervical ganglion; immunohistochemistry; RT-PCRThe paracervical ganglion (PCG) is a unique structure of the autonomic nervous system. It contains components of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways. Postganglionic nerve fibres originating from PCG are responsible for the innervation of the lower urinary and digestive tract as well as reproductive organs.Previous studies (Mitchell, 1993;Keast et al., 1995) demonstrated the presence of two main types of neuronal somata in PCG: cholinergic [containing, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT)] and adrenergic [containing noradrenaline (NA), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine B-hydroxylase (DβH)], so-called "short" adrenergic neurons. Those two populations also contain other substances acting as neurotransmitters, neurotransmitter synthesizing enzyme, neuro-modulators or trophic factors: neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS; Majewski et al

Characterisation, localisation and expression of porcine TACR1, TACR2 and TACR3 genes

“…As a result, they are often used as models to study a variety of disease mechanisms and different pathophysiological conditions in humans, such as obesity and gastrointestinal dysfunctions (Spurlock and Gabler 2008;Pidsudko et al 2011;Zhang et al 2013). Substance P was reported to be localised in the porcine central nervous system (Barnes et al 1993;Holm et al 1993) and in the nerve fibres innervating many porcine organs (Schmidt et al 1991;Happola et al 1993;Czaja et al 2001;Lamb and Sparrow 2002;Podlasz et al 2003;Pidsudko et al 2008;Podlasz and Wasowicz 2008;Kaleczyc et al 2010). In the pig, substance P can stimulate both endocrine and exocrine pancreatic functions through NK-1 receptors (Schmidt et al 2000).…”

Resiniferatoxin and Tetrodotoxin Induced NPY and TH Immunoreactivity Changes Within the Paracervical Ganglion Neurons Supplying the Urinary Bladder

“…Podlasz and Wąsowicz (2008) reported that 75 % of all PCG neurons were NPY-IR although 23 % were TH-IR. Our data indicate that about 64 % of FB-positive neurons were simultaneously NPY-IR while less than 5 % were TH-IR.…”

“…Interestingly, RTX provoked an almost 20 % increase in the amount of NPY immunoreactivity, whereas TTX induced a decrease. Podlasz and Wąsowicz (2008) established that most of TH-IR neurons were located in the cranial part of the PCG and supplied by the hypogastric nerve. In our study most of TH-IR neurons, after neurotoxin treatment, were observed more towards the caudal part.…”

“…It is also one of the sources for innervating the urinary bladder and contains both sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons (Keast 1995a, 1999; Vaughan and Satchell 1995; Podlasz and Wąsowicz 2008). Former reports have confirmed the presence of cholinergic, adrenergic, and nonadrenergic-noncholinergic neurotransmitters, as well as neuropeptide Y in the pelvic ganglia including female PCG and its male counterpart in laboratory animals and pig (Papka et al 1987; Mitchell 1993; Gibbins 1995; Keast 1995b; Keast et al 1995; Podlasz and Wąsowicz 2008). Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is used as a marker of catecholaminergic neurons, while neuropeptides Y (NPY), as well as ChAT/VAChT, VIP, and SOM, is the most frequently observed substances in PCG neurons, which testifies its important function in this nerve's structure (Podlasz and Wąsowicz 2008; Bossowska et al 2009).…”

Distribution and immunohistochemical characteristics of cocaine- and amphetamineregulated transcript-positive nerve elements in the pelvic ganglia of the female pig

“…It is well known that functions of autonomic neurons (including those located in pelvic ganglia) are mediated through two major neurotransmitters (noradrenaline and acetylcholine) which are supported by a variety of biologically active substances called in general neuropeptides (for a review see Dail 1996, Kaleczyc et al 2003b, Podlasz and Wąsowicz 2008. Over the past years, cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) has been added to the list of active substances known to be present in both central and peripheral neurons.…”