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Multiple opioid peptides and the modulation of pain: Immunohistochemical analysis of dynorphin and enkephalin in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis and spinal cord of the cat
Author(s) -
Cruz Lilia,
Basbaum Allan I.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.902400402
Subject(s) - dynorphin , spinal cord , spinal trigeminal nucleus , enkephalin , neuroscience , nociception , nucleus , immunocytochemistry , met enkephalin , biology , neuropeptide , opioid peptide , central nervous system , dynorphin a , anatomy , opioid , endocrinology , biochemistry , receptor
Using immunocytochemistry we have identified important differences in the distribution of immunoreactive dynorphin and enkephalin cells and terminals in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis and in the spinal dorsal horn of the cat. Dynorphin immunoreactive processes are more closely associated with those regions of cord that process nociceptive information, specifically laminae I and V. Enkephalin neurons and terminals are more widespread. Based on the staining pattern with an antiserum to the octapeptide‐met‐enkephalin‐arg‐gly‐leu, we suggest that the dense enkephalin terminal immunoreactivity in the inner part of the substantia gelatinosa derives from cells in lamina III. There are also significant differences in the anatomical relationship of the two opioid peptides with the organization of parasympatheic autonomic preganglionic neurons. The functional significance of these observations must await physiological analysis; nevertheless, it is almost certain that differences will be found and that these will be important in understanding the mechanisms through which exogenous opiates and a variety of descending control systems exert their effects on spinal cord neurons.