Acetylcholinesterase-containing neurons, substance P and enkephalin fibers in the ventral horns of developing human embryos and fetuses.

ABSTRACT

The presence of the acetylcholinesterase neurons and substance P-like and enkephalin-like fibers in the various nuclear columns of the ventral horns of the spinal cords was studied in the developing human by acetylcholinesterase histochemistry and substance P and enkephalin immunohistochemistry. Acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons initially appeared in the lateral neuronal columns and eventually were also observed in the medial columns as well as the median columns at various levels of the spinal cord by 10 weeks' gestation. Acetylcholinesterase-positive neurons in the lower sacral levels were not detected until 11-12 weeks' gestation. Diffused substance P- and enkephalin-like fibers were demonstrated as early as 10 weeks' gestation but did not align with any particular nuclear column until after 15 weeks' gestation. These fibers further increased in length and adopted reticular branching patterns and many of these tended to surround the cell bodies of the nuclear columns. Possible interaction of acetylcholinesterase neurons and substance P and enkephalin fibers would commence by 15 weeks' gestation.