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Localization of NADPH‐diaphorase‐containing neurons in sensory ganglia of the rat
Author(s) -
Aimi Yoshinari,
Fujimura Masaki,
Vincent Steven R.,
Kimura Hiroshi
Publication year - 1991
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.903060303
Subject(s) - nodose ganglion , biology , ganglion , retrograde tracing , diaphorase , nadph dehydrogenase , calcitonin gene related peptide , anatomy , immunohistochemistry , dorsal root ganglion , sensory system , sensory neuron , neuropeptide , neuroscience , endocrinology , vagus nerve , nitric oxide synthase , receptor , dorsum , nitric oxide , biochemistry , enzyme , immunology , stimulation
The presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)‐diaphorase activity was studied histochemically in the sensory ganglia of the rat. Supraspinally, the trigeminal ganglion possessed only a few cells positively stained for NADPH‐diaphorase, while a large number of positive neurons was found in the nodose ganglion. In the dorsal root ganglia, the distribution of positive cells showed a peculiar pattern in relation to spinal levels. Very minor populations (less than 2% of the total ganglionic cells) exhibited positive reaction in ganglia at levels ranging from the first cervical (C1) to fourth thoracic (T4) and from the second lumber (L2) through the entire sacral levels. In the middle to lower thoracic levels (from T5 to L1), however, abundant diaphorase‐positive cells were observed. From these positive neurons it was possible to trace intensely stained nerve fibers. In the lower thoracic level, for example, dense positive fibers were seen in the ramus communicans. Retrograde tracing studies revealed that diaphorase‐containing neurons in the lower thoracic level project at least partly to the gastric wall and the celiac ganglion. These results indicate that the diaphorase‐positive ganglionic neurons in the thoracicolumbar levels may carry autonomic visceral afferent information. Double staining with NADPH‐diaphorase histochemistry and peptide immunohistochemistry revealed that NADPH‐diaphorase colocalizes with calcitonin gene‐related peptide and substance P in many of these visceral afferent neurons.