Fluorescently-labeled fremanezumab is distributed to sensory and autonomic ganglia and the dura but not to the brain of rats with uncompromised blood brain barrier.

BACKGROUND: The presence of calcitonin gene-related peptide and its receptors in multiple brain areas and peripheral tissues previously implicated in migraine initiation and its many associated symptoms raises the possibility that humanized monoclonal anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide antibodies (CGRP-mAbs) can prevent migraine by modulating neuronal behavior inside and outside the brain. Critical to our ability to conduct a fair discussion over the mechanisms of action of CGRP-mAbs in migraine prevention is data generation that determines which of the many possible peripheral and central sites are accessible to these antibodies - a question raised frequently due to their large size. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rats with uncompromised and compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) were injected with Alexa Fluor 594-conjugated fremanezumab (Frema594), sacrificed 4 h or 7 d later, and relevant tissues were examined for the presence of Frema594. RESULTS: In rats with uncompromised BBB, Frema594 was similarly observed at 4 h and 7 d in the dura, dural blood vessels, trigeminal ganglion, C2 dorsal root ganglion, the parasympathetic sphenopalatine ganglion and the sympathetic superior cervical ganglion but not in the spinal trigeminal nucleus, thalamus, hypothalamus or cortex. In rats with compromised BBB, Frema594 was detected in the cortex (100 µm surrounding the compromised BBB site) 4 h but not 7 d after injections. DISCUSSION: Our inability to detect fluorescent (CGRP-mAbs) in the brain supports the conclusion that CGRP-mAbs prevent the headache phase of migraine by acting mostly, if not exclusively, outside the brain as the amount of CGRP-mAbs that enters the brain (if any) is too small to be physiologically meaningful.

Proteomic Profiling of Cranial (Superior) Cervical Ganglia Reveals Beta-Amyloid and Ubiquitin Proteasome System Perturbations in an Equine Multiple System Neuropathy.

Equine grass sickness (EGS) is an acute, predominantly fatal, multiple system neuropathy of grazing horses with reported incidence rates of ∼2%. An apparently identical disease occurs in multiple species, including but not limited to cats, dogs, and rabbits. Although the precise etiology remains unclear, ultrastructural findings have suggested that the primary lesion lies in the glycoprotein biosynthetic pathway of specific neuronal populations. The goal of this study was therefore to identify the molecular processes underpinning neurodegeneration in EGS. Here, we use a bottom-up approach beginning with the application of modern proteomic tools to the analysis of cranial (superior) cervical ganglion (CCG, a consistently affected tissue) from EGS-affected patients and appropriate control cases postmortem. In what appears to be the proteomic application of modern proteomic tools to equine neuronal tissues and/or to an inherent neurodegenerative disease of large animals (not a model of human disease), we identified 2,311 proteins in CCG extracts, with 320 proteins increased and 186 decreased by greater than 20% relative to controls. Further examination of selected proteomic candidates by quantitative fluorescent Western blotting (QFWB) and subcellular expression profiling by immunohistochemistry highlighted a previously unreported dysregulation in proteins commonly associated with protein misfolding/aggregation responses seen in a myriad of human neurodegenerative conditions, including but not limited to amyloid precursor protein (APP), microtubule associated protein (Tau), and multiple components of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). Differentially expressed proteins eligible for in silico pathway analysis clustered predominantly into the following biofunctions: (1) diseases and disorders, including; neurological disease and skeletal and muscular disorders and (2) molecular and cellular functions, including cellular assembly and organization, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction (including epinephrine, dopamine, and adrenergic signaling and receptor function), and small molecule biochemistry. Interestingly, while the biofunctions identified in this study may represent pathways underpinning EGS-induced neurodegeneration, this is also the first demonstration of potential molecular conservation (including previously unreported dysregulation of the UPS and APP) spanning the degenerative cascades from an apparently unrelated condition of large animals, to small animal models with altered neuronal vulnerability, and human neurological conditions. Importantly, this study highlights the feasibility and benefits of applying modern proteomic techniques to veterinary investigations of neurodegenerative processes in diseases of large animals.

Innervation of taste buds revealed with Brainbow-labeling in mouse.

Nerve fibers that surround and innervate the taste bud were visualized with inherent fluorescence using Brainbow transgenic mice that were generated by mating the founder line L with nestin-cre mice. Multicolor fluorescence revealed perigemmal fibers as branched within the non-taste epithelium and ending in clusters of multiple rounded swellings surrounding the taste pore. Brainbow-labeling also revealed the morphology and branching pattern of single intragemmal fibers. These taste bud fibers frequently innervated both the peripheral bud, where immature gemmal cells are located, and the central bud, where mature, differentiated cells are located. The fibers typically bore preterminal and terminal swellings, growth cones with filopodia, swellings, and rounded retraction bulbs. These results establish an anatomical substrate for taste nerve fibers to contact and remodel among receptor cells at all stages of their differentiation, an interpretation that was supported by staining with GAP-43, a marker for growing fibers and growth cones.

Immunohistochemical detection of intra-neuronal VZV proteins in snap-frozen human ganglia is confounded by antibodies directed against blood group A1-associated antigens.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox, establishes latency in trigeminal (TG) and dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and can lead to herpes zoster upon reactivation. The VZV proteome expressed during latency remains ill-defined, and previous studies have shown discordant data on the spectrum and expression pattern of VZV proteins and transcripts in latently infected human ganglia. Recently, Zerboni and colleagues have provided new insight into this discrepancy (Zerboni et al. in J Virol 86:578-583, 2012). They showed that VZV-specific ascites-derived monoclonal antibody (mAb) preparations contain endogenous antibodies directed against blood group A1 proteins, resulting in false-positive intra-neuronal VZV staining in formalin-fixed human DRG. The aim of the present study was to confirm and extend this phenomenon to snap-frozen TG (n=30) and DRG (n=9) specimens of blood group genotyped donors (n=30). The number of immunohistochemically stained neurons was higher with mAb directed to immediate early protein 62 (IE62) compared with IE63. The IE63 mAb-positive neurons always co-stained for IE62 but not vice versa. The mAb staining was confined to distinct large intra-neuronal vacuoles and restricted to A1(POS) donors. Anti-VZV mAb staining in neurons, but not in VZV-infected cell monolayers, was obliterated after mAb adsorption against blood group A1 erythrocytes. The data presented demonstrate that neuronal VZV protein expression detected by ascites-derived mAb in snap-frozen TG and DRG of blood group A1(POS) donors can be misinterpreted due to the presence of endogenous antibodies directed against blood group A1-associated antigens present in ascites-derived VZV-specific mAb preparations.

Netrin-3, a mouse homolog of human NTN2L, is highly expressed in sensory ganglia and shows differential binding to netrin receptors.

The netrins comprise a small phylogenetically conserved family of guidance cues important for guiding particular axonal growth cones to their targets. Two netrin genes, netrin-1 and netrin-2, have been described in chicken, but in mouse so far a single netrin gene, an ortholog of chick netrin-1, has been reported. We report the identification of a second mouse netrin gene, which we name netrin-3. Netrin-3 does not appear to be the ortholog of chick netrin-2 but is the ortholog of a recently identified human netrin gene termed NTN2L ("netrin-2-like"), as evidenced by a high degree of sequence conservation and by chromosomal localization. Netrin-3 is expressed in sensory ganglia, mesenchymal cells, and muscles during the time of peripheral nerve development but is largely excluded from the CNS at early stages of its development. The murine netrin-3 protein binds to netrin receptors of the DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer) family [DCC and neogenin] and the UNC5 family (UNC5H1, UNC5H2 and UNC5H3). Unlike chick netrin-1, however, murine netrin-3 binds to DCC with lower affinity than to the other four receptors. Consistent with this finding, although murine netrin-3 can mimic the outgrowth-promoting activity of netrin-1 on commissural axons, it has lower specific activity than netrin-1. Thus, like netrin-1, netrin-3 may also function in axon guidance during development but may function predominantly in the development of the peripheral nervous system and may act primarily through netrin receptors other than DCC.

Reduced levels of mRNA encoding endoskeletal and growth-associated proteins in sensory ganglia in experimental diabetes.

This study investigated changes in levels of mRNAs encoding the three neurofilament (NF) proteins NF-L (low), NF-M (medium), and NF-H (high) and two growth-associated proteins, GAP-43 and T alpha 1 alpha-tubulin, in lumbar dorsal root ganglia of control and streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. After 8 weeks of diabetes the animals were killed, and total RNA was isolated from the L4 and L5 dorsal root ganglia and subjected to Northern blotting, with constant amounts of total RNA loaded onto each lane. A truncated sense RNA for GAP-43 was included as an internal standard during RNA isolation to enable accurate quantification of mRNA levels. The filters were probed sequentially with 32P-labeled cDNAs encoding NF-L, NF-M, NF-H, GAP-43, T alpha 1 alpha-tubulin, and citrate synthase. Hybridizing RNAs were detected by autoradiography and quantified by image analysis. Hybridization signals were normalized to those of the internal standard. In diabetes, NF-L mRNA levels (2.5- and 4-kilobase [kb] transcripts) were decreased by 35 (P = 0.002) and 34% (P < 0.001), respectively, the NF-H mRNA level was decreased by 65% (P < 0.001), but the NF-M mRNA remained unchanged. T alpha 1 alpha-tubulin and GAP-43 mRNA levels were reduced by 56 (P < 0.001) and 30% (P < 0.05), respectively. Levels of citrate synthase mRNA were unchanged. These data indicate a selective defect of expression of growth-associated and endoskeletal proteins in experimentally induced diabetes.

RhoA, RhoB, RhoC, Rac1, Cdc42, and Tc10 mRNA levels in spinal cord, sensory ganglia, and corticospinal tract neurons and long-lasting specific changes following spinal cord injury.

Inhibition of RhoA has been shown to enhance axonal regeneration following spinal cord injury. Here we mapped mRNA expression patterns of RhoA, B, and C, Rac1, Cdc42, and Tc10 in spinal cord, sensory ganglia, and sensorimotor cortex in uninjured rats, and following spinal cord injury or sham laminectomy. In the intact spinal cord, neurons displayed high levels of Rac1, Cdc42, and Tc10 mRNA hybridization signal. GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes expressed primarily RhoB and Rac1, while oligodendrocyte-like cells expressed RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42. Injury caused profound, long-lasting upregulation of RhoA, Rac1, Cdc42, and Tc10 mRNA in the spinal cord, while RhoB was modestly increased and RhoC did not change. GFAP-immunoreactive reactive astrocytes exhibited a dramatic increase of RhoA mRNA expression along with increases of Rac1 and Cdc42. Injury also led to elevation of RhoA, Cdc42, and Tc10 in neurons and modest increases of RhoA, Rac1, and Tc10 in oligodendrocyte-like cells. Laminectomy caused similar, but less pronounced alterations of investigated mRNA species. In dorsal root ganglia neuronal RhoA, Rac1, Cdc42, and Tc10 mRNA levels were increased similarly by spinal cord injury and sham surgery. The CST pyramidal cells expressed Tc10 mRNA and the CST itself was Tc10-immunoreactive. Tc10-immunoreactivity disappeared distal to injury. We conclude that there are gene-specific patterns of expression of the six different Rho-GTPases in normal spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia, and that specific changes of temporal and spatial expression patterns occur in response to spinal cord injury, suggesting different roles of these GTPases in the cellular sequelae of CNS injury.

Brn-3.0 expression identifies early post-mitotic CNS neurons and sensory neural precursors.

The mammalian POU-domain factor Brn-3.0 (Brn-3, Brn-3a) is a member of the POU-IV class of transcription factors which resemble the C. elegans factor unc-86 in structure, DNA-binding properties and expression in subsets of sensory neurons. Using specific antisera, we have explored the expression of Brn-3.0 in the early development of the mouse nervous system. Brn-3.0 expression begins at embryonic day 8.5 (E8.5) in a specific set of midbrain tectal neurons whose time and place of appearance are consistent with the earliest CNS neurons previously identified using non-specific markers of neural differentiation. By E9.5, Brn-3.0 immunoreactivity also identifies early CNS neurons in the hindbrain and spinal cord. In the peripheral sensory ganglia, Brn-3.0 expression is first observed at E9.0 in migrating precursors of the trigeminal ganglion, followed by the other sensory cranial and dorsal root ganglia, in a rostral to caudal sequence. Double-label immunofluorescence with Brn-3.0 and the markers of cell division PCNA and BrdU demonstrate that Brn-3.0 is restricted to the post-mitotic phase of CNS development. In the sensory cranial and dorsal root ganglia, however, Brn-3.0 is expressed in dividing neural precursors, suggesting that the nature or timing of developmental events controlled by Brn-3.0 are distinct in the CNS and peripheral neurons. Restriction of Brn-3.0 expression to post-mitotic CNS neurons demonstrates that Brn-3.0 is not required for neurogenesis or patterning of the neuroepithelium in the CNS, but suggests a role in specification of mature neuronal phenotypes.

Morphological evidence of sensory neurons in the root of the rat tongue.

In our previous studies, a large number of substance P (SP)-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers were detected in the rat tongue and their number increased after inflammation, suggesting that these fibers might be involved in the axon reflex. Therefore, in this study, we have examined the different neuropeptide-containing nerve elements by light, electron, and confocal laser microscopy. SP, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) IR varicose fibers were numerous compared with other ones. Small groups of ganglia with perikarya IR for SP, VIP, NPY, galanin, and somatostatin were observed. The SP-IR nerve cell bodies were mainly located in the tunica propria just below the epithelial lining. Double-labeling immunohistochemistry showed that the intrinsic SP-IR neurons did not colocalize VIP. The SP containing nerve terminals were observed in and below the epithelium as well as in very close contact to or making real synapses with other neurons in the intralingual ganglion. Our data confirmed the possibility of intrinsic sensory neurons, which might be the afferent branch of the intralingual reflex arch, while the VIP- and NPY-IR neurons located in the salivary glands, around the blood vessels, and in the muscle layer might constitute the efferent site of this reflex.

Nature and origin of cerebrovascular nerves with substance P immunoreactivity in bats (Mammalia: Microchiroptera), with special reference to species differences.

Double staining immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the origin and projection of nerves with substance P (SP) immunoreactivity (-IR) in the walls of the major cerebral arteries in two microchiropteran species. In the greater horseshoe bat, most of the cerebral perivascular nerves with SP-IR did not exhibit calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-IR, but emitted bright immunofluorescence for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). In this species, a large number of cell bodies with both SP- and VIP-IR were observed in many cranial ganglia along various branches of the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves. There were no cell bodies immunoreactive for either SP and VIP in the two sensory (trigeminal and upper cervical dorsal root), two sympathetic (superior cervical and stellate), or two vagal (superior and jugular) ganglia. In addition, several thick fiber bundles with both SP- and VIP-IR were present in the wall of the cerebral carotid artery, and descended progressively reaching as far as the middle part of the basilar artery (BA). These and other findings suggest that SP-immunoreactive nerves with VIP-IR but not CGRP-IR, which contribute to the rich innervation of the vertebrobasilar system in the greater horseshoe bat, originate from neurons with the same combination of peptide-IR in the major or local facial or glossopharyngeal parasympathetic ganglia, and enter the cranial cavity along the internal carotid artery. In the bent-winged bat, however, cerebral perivascular SP-immunoreactive nerves, as well as SP-immunoreactive neurons within the trigeminal and upper cervical dorsal root ganglia (uCDRG), showed neither CGRP-IR nor VIP-IR, and were mostly confined to the caudal BA and the vertebral artery (VA). These observations, in addition to the projection of this nerve type to the BA via the VA as fiber bundles, or through the meninges, indicate that the principal source of the cerebrovascular SP-immunoreactive innervation in this species is the uCDRG.

Nitrergic innervation of the cerebral arterial tree in the bent-winged bat (mammalia: Microchiroptera).

The distribution and origin of cerebrovascular nitrergic nerves were studied immunohistochemically and histochemically in the bent-winged bat. The supply of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-immunoreactive (IR) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPHd)-positive nerves to the bat major cerebral arteries differs from the general mammalian pattern in that it is preferential for the vertebrobasilar system (VBS) as opposed to the internal carotid system. Interestingly, a few nerve cells with bright NOS immunofluorescence and intense NADPHd activity were localized in the walls of the vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA) from many individual bats. Cerebral perivascular NOS-IR nerves were generally immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). NOS-IR neurons intrinsic to the BA and VA expressed variable degrees of VIP immunoreactivity and showed no acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Most cell bodies of the microganglia (MG) in the carotid canal and tympanic cavity, and those of the cranial and cervical facial ganglia, showed both NOS and VIP immunoreactivities and were stained intensely for NADPHd. From these and other findings, it is suggested that, in the bent-winged bat at least, the BA and VA of the cerebral arterial tree are frequently dually innervated by two neurochemically defined nitrergic neurons, the cranial parasympathetic VIP-IR and AChE-positive neurons, which are derived mainly from the MG via the internal carotid artery, and the intrinsic neurons, either IR or immunonegative for VIP but negative for AChE, which form an outflow tract from some caudally located ganglia projecting to the VBS via the VA.

Distribution of the messenger RNA for the prostaglandin E receptor subtype EP3 in the mouse nervous system.

Distribution of the messenger RNA for the prostaglandin E receptor subtype EP3 was investigated by in situ hybridization in the nervous system of the mouse. The hybridization signals for EP3 were widely distributed in the brain and sensory ganglia and specifically localized to neurons. In the dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia, about half of the neurons were labeled intensely. In the brain, intensely labeled neurons were found in Ammon's horn, the preoptic nuclei, lateral hypothalamic area, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, lateral mammillary nucleus, entopeduncular nucleus, substantia nigra pars compacta, locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei. Moderately labeled neurons were seen in the mitral cell layer of the main olfactory bulb, layer V of the entorhinal and parasubicular cortices, layers V and VI of the cerebral neocortex, nuclei of the diagonal band, magnocellular preoptic nucleus, globus pallidus and lateral parabrachial nucleus. In the thalamus, moderately labeled neurons were distributed in the anterior, ventromedial, laterodorsal, paraventricular and central medial nuclei. Based on these distributions, we suggest that EP3 not only mediates prostaglandin E2 signals evoked by blood-borne cytokines in the areas poor in the blood-brain barrier, but also responds to those formed intrinsically within the brain to modulate various neuronal activities. Possible EP3 actions are discussed in relation to the reported neuronal activities of prostaglandin E2 in the brain.

Angiotensin II subtype 1A (AT1A) receptors in the rat sensory vagal complex: subcellular localization and association with endogenous angiotensin.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 (AT1) receptors are prevalent in the sensory vagal complex including the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and area postrema, each of which has been implicated in the central cardiovascular effects produced by Ang II. In rodents, these actions prominently involve the AT1A receptor. Thus, we examined the electron microscopic dual immunolabeling of antisera recognizing the AT1A receptor and Ang II to determine interactive sites in the sensory vagal complex of rat brain. In both the area postrema and adjacent dorsomedial NTS, many somatodendritic profiles were dually labeled for the AT1A receptor and Ang II. In these profiles, AT1A receptor-immunoreactivity was often seen in the cytoplasm beneath labeled portions of the plasma membrane and in endosome-like granules as well as Golgi lamellae and outer nuclear membranes. In addition, AT1A receptor labeling was detected on the plasma membrane and in association with cytoplasmic membranes in many small axons and axon terminals. These terminals were morphologically heterogeneous containing multiple types of vesicles and forming either inhibitory- or excitatory-type synapses. In the area postrema, AT1A receptor labeling also was detected in many non-neuronal cells including glia, capillary endothelial cells and perivascular fibroblasts that were less prevalent in the NTS. We conclude that in the rat sensory vagal complex, AT1A receptors are strategically positioned for involvement in modulation of the postsynaptic excitability and intracrine hormone-like effects of Ang II. In addition, these receptors have distributions consistent with diverse roles in regulation of transmitter release, regional blood flow and/or vascular permeability.

Ultrastructural visualization and neurochemical characterization of spinal projections of primary sensory afferents from the nipple: combined use of transganglionic transport of HRP-WGA and glutamate immunocytochemistry.

We used transganglionic transport of the neuronal tracer horseradish peroxidase coupled to wheat germ agglutinin (HRP-WGA) and post-embedding immunogold staining to determine the spinal projections and neurochemical identity of sensory afferents originating from a discrete cutaneous area. After SC injection of tracer into the nipple of lactating rats and reaction with tetramethylbenzidine stabilized with diaminobenzidene (TMB-DAB) or DAB and cobalt (TMB-DAB-Co), we found labeled terminals in the internal part of the first two layers of the dorsal horn where they formed axodendritic synapses and, at times, central elements of glomeruli, synaptic complexes believed to be involved in the integration of sensory messages. Immunogold staining of ultra-thin sections of tissue reacted with TMB-DAB-Co revealed that many mammary afferents contained glutamate as putative neurotransmitter. This combined approach thus offers the possibility of marking a limited set of primary afferents, after capture of tracer by sensory receptors of restricted peripheral areas, to visualize their projections at the spinal level and to determine their neurochemical nature with electron microscopy.

Genomic organization and regulatory elements of the rat latexin gene, which is expressed in a cell type-specific manner in both central and peripheral nervous systems.

Latexin, a carboxypeptidase A inhibitor, is expressed in a cell type-specific manner in both central and peripheral nervous systems in the rat. In the neocortex, a specific subpopulation of neurons in layers V and VI expresses latexin. In the primary sensory ganglia, the expression is restricted to smaller diameter neurons. As a first step to clarify regulatory mechanisms underlying cell type-specific expression of latexin, we have determined the organization of the rat latexin gene and analyzed its regulatory elements. The latexin gene spans approximately 5.8 kb, and consists of six exons and five introns. Three transcription initiation sites were mapped. The upstream region lacks typical TATA or CAAT boxes but has several GC-rich sites. To assess promoter activity, the luciferase reporter gene fused to the 5'-flanking region (6.4 kb) of the latexin gene was transiently transfected into several cell lines. Luciferase activity was 2-8 times higher in latexin-expressing cells (PC12) than non-expressing cells (NS20 and L6). Deletion analysis with PC12 cells revealed that a core promoter is located between nucleotide positions -261 and -201 relative to the A of the initiation codon. Nerve growth factor (NGF)-responsive element(s) is located between positions -518 and -262, in which AP-1, AP-2 and NF-kappaB binding sites are found. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a 1.3 kb genomic fragment containing the first intron has transcriptional enhancing activity in PC12 cells. These results suggest that up and downstream regulatory elements are involved in the control of cell type-specific expression of latexin.

A comparative study of three cranial sensory ganglia projecting into the oral cavity: in situ hybridization analyses of neurotrophin receptors and thermosensitive cation channels.

Peripheral cranial sensory nerves projecting into the oral cavity receive food intake stimuli and transmit sensory signals to the central nervous system. To describe and compare the features of the cranial sensory ganglia that innervate the oral cavity, i.e., the trigeminal, petrosal, and geniculate ganglia (TG, PG, and GG, respectively), in situ hybridization was conducted using riboprobes for neurotrophin receptors (TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC), a neurotransmitter (substance P), and ion channels important for thermosensation (VR1 and TREK-1). In TG, all in six probes yielded positive signals to various extent in intensity and frequency. In addition, a strong correlation between the expression of VR1 and those of TrkA and substance P was observed as in the case of the dorsal root ganglia. In PG, positive signals to all six probes were also detected, and the correlation of expression was similar to that shown by TG. On the other hand, most cells in GG were positive to the TrkB probe, and a small number of cells were positive to the TrkC probe, but no significant signal was observed for the other four probes. These results indicate that TG and PG consist of cells that are heterogeneous in terms of neurotrophin requirement and somatosensory functions, and that GG seems to consist mainly of a homogeneous cell type, gustatory neurons. In conclusion, TG, PG, and GG, show gene expression characteristics intrinsic to the three ganglia. It is also concluded that TG and a portion of PG project several types of somatosensory nerves. This is consistent with the finding that GG and a portion of PG project gustatory nerves.

The co-expression of VR1 and VRL-1 in the rat vagal sensory ganglia.

Immunohistochemistry for two nociceptive transducers, the vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1) and vanilloid receptor 1-like receptor (VRL-1), was performed on the vagal sensory ganglia. In the jugular ganglion, VR1-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were small to medium-sized (range 49.7-1,125.6 microm(2), mean+/-S.D. 407.7+/-219.7 microm(2)), whereas VRL-1-IR neurons were medium-sized to large (range 223.6-1,341.1 microm(2), mean+/-S.D. 584.3+/-253.5 microm(2)). In the nodose ganglion, VR1- and VRL-1-IR neurons were mostly small to medium-sized (VR1: range 148.5-1464.4 microm(2), mean+/-S.D. 554.3+/-207.4 microm(2); VRL-1: range 161.7-1166.2 microm(2), mean+/-S.D. 541.9+/-186.2 microm(2)). The double immunofluorescence method revealed that co-expression of VR1-immunoreactivity among VRL-1-IR neurons was more abundant in the nodose ganglion (63%) than in the jugular ganglion (4%). The present study suggests that co-expression of VR1 and VRL-1 may be more common in visceral sensory neurons than in somatic sensory neurons.

Occurrence and distribution of substance P receptors in the cerebral blood vessels of the rat.

The distribution of immunoreactivity to the receptor for substance P was examined in the cerebral blood vessels of the rat. Substance P immunoreactivity has been demonstrated in the nerve fibers of the cerebral blood vessels. Recently, the production of substance P receptor specific antibody has enabled the detection of localization of the substance P receptor in the central nervous system. In this study, we examined the existence of nerve fibers with substance P receptor immunoreactivity in the cerebral blood vessels and the cranial ganglia innervating the cerebral blood vessels. Sprague-Dawley rats were perfused with fixative and the pial arteries and the cranial ganglia known to innervate the cerebral blood vessels, i.e., trigeminal, sphenopalatine, internal carotid, otic and superior cervical ganglia, were dissected. All specimens were incubated with anti-substance P receptor IgG, then stained by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Numerous nerve fibers with varicosities forming plexuses, with substance P receptor immunoreactivity were observed on the walls of the major extracerebral arteries forming the circle of Willis and its branches. Substance P receptor immunoreactivity was also detected in the endothelium of the cerebral arteries. Substance P receptor immunoreactivity was positive in many neurons of the sphenopalatine ganglion, otic ganglion, trigeminal ganglion, superior cervical ganglion and internal carotid ganglion. The present study demonstrated the existence of nerve fibers with substance P receptor immunoreactivity in the cerebral blood vessels and the cranial ganglia that innervate the cerebral blood vessels. These findings are important in understanding the responsiveness of the cerebral blood vessels to substance P.

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the rat cranial sensory ganglia.

Immunohistochemistry for Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) was performed on the rat cranial sensory ganglia. More than one half of neurons was immunoreactive for the enzyme in the trigeminal (60%), jugular (70%), petrosal (55%) and nodose ganglia (63%). These neurons were mainly small to medium-sized. The co-expression study demonstrated that one half of CaMKII-immunoreactive (ir) neurons was also immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or the vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (VR1) in the trigeminal, jugular and petrosal ganglia. In the nodose ganglion, CaMKII-ir neurons were mostly devoid of CGRP-immunoreactivity (ir) (8.2%) whereas the co-expression with VR1-ir was common among such neurons (72%). In the facial skin, nasal mucosa and palate, the epithelium and taste bud were innervated by CaMKII-ir nerve fibers. In addition, the retrograde tracing study demonstrated that 39.6% and 44.8% of trigeminal neurons which were retrogradely traced with fluorogold from the facial skin and nasal mucosa exhibited CaMKII-ir. Forty-six percent of petrosal neurons which innervated the soft palate were immunoreactive for the enzyme.

Neuronal messengers and peptide receptors in the human sphenopalatine and otic ganglia.

A majority of the parasympathetic nerve fibers to cranial structures derive from the sphenopalatine and otic ganglia. In particular, blood vessels are invested with a rich supply of dilator fibers of parasympathetic origin. In the present study, we have examined the occurrence of noncholinergic neuromessengers and neuropeptide receptors in the human sphenopalatine and otic ganglia. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-immunoreactive (ir) nerve cell bodies occurred in high numbers in the sphenopalatine and otic ganglia. Likewise, high numbers of NOS- and PACAP-containing nerve cell bodies were seen in both ganglia. Autofluorescent lipofuscin, characteristic of adult human nervous tissue, was present within many nerve cell bodies in both ganglia. Receptor mRNA was studied with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Total RNA from the sphenopalatine and otic ganglia was successfully extracted. By using appropriate sense and antisense primers, oligonucleotides were designed from the human sequences derived from GenBank, corresponding to human NPY Y1, CGRP1 and VIP1 receptors. In the sphenopalatine ganglion, we revealed the presence of mRNA for the human NPY Y1 and VIP1 receptors but not the CGRP1 receptor. The otic ganglion was found to react positively only for primers to mRNA for VIP1 but not for CGRP1 or NPY Y1 receptors.