Neutral red stains ganglia in the vagal motor pathway to ferret trachea without affecting ganglionic transmission.

ABSTRACT

To determine the effect of Neutral red (0.01%) on neural transmission through ganglia, we used an in vitro nerve-muscle preparation of ferret trachea. Before, during, and after incubating the trachea in Neutral red, we induced isometric muscle contractions first by activating preganglionic fibers with electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, and then by activating postganglionic nerve fibers with electrical field stimulation. Incubation in Neutral red (0.01%) for 45 min at 38 degrees C reduced the responses to both pre- and postganglionic activation. When the control responses to pre- and postganglionic activation were matched. Neutral red depressed the 2 responses to the same degree, implying that the depression was confined to postganglionic structures. Washout of Neutral red from the medium restored the responses to both pre- and postganglionic activation. Histologic examination of all tissues proved that the ganglia were still stained after the washout procedure. We conclude that Neutral red (0.01%) depresses smooth muscle contractions evoked through neural pathways, and that this depression is reversible and confined to postganglionic structures, leaving ganglionic transmission intact.