Distribution of peptidergic neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of the rat

Distribution of peptidergic neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus(PVN)of the rat was investigated by means of immunohistochemical technique,and thearea,perimeter,maximum diameter,minimum diameter and grey scale of peptidergicneuronal cell bodies were measured with an image analyser.All of these peptidergicneurons,oxytocin(OXY)-,vasopressin(VP)-,substance P(SP)-,corticotropin releasingfactor(CRF)-,thyrotropin releasing hormone(TRH)-,neurotensin(NT)-,cholecystokinin(CCK)-,somatostatin(SOM)-,galanin(GAL)-,leucine-enkephalin(L-ENK)-,vasoactive intestine polypeptide(VIP)-,and ACTH-like neurons,were ob-served in the PVN.The data of image analysis showed that the area of peptidergicneuronal cell bodies in the magnocellular subnucleus part of the PVN was similar,but wasdifferent in the parvocellular subnucleus part of the PVN.

AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY ON RELATIONS BETWEEN MAST CELL AND PEPTIDERGIC TERMINALS IN NASAL MUCOSA OF CHRONIC RHINITIS PATIENTS

Mast cell-nerve relation is a new topk explored deeply in different organs, but little documentation could be found in the literature on the relation in human nasal mucosa. We carried out this study using immunocytochemistry and found that substance P (SP) terminals were present in human nasal mucosa from six cases of chronic rhinitis. SP terminals were often found to be adjacent to or have a direct contact with mast cells (MCs). Electron-microscopic studies revealed that MCs could contact nonmyelinated nerve terminals. These results have important implications in the understanding of the pathogenesis of neurogenic inflammation seen in nasal mucosa and will probably cast new insight into the future treatment of such disease.

Histochemical and immunohistochemical studies of distribution of acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers and peptidergic terminals in the nasal mucosa of rats

Objective To further investigate the mechanism of nasal secretion closely related to the innervation patterns in nasal mucosa with emphasis on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) positive fibers and peptidergic terminals in nasal mucosa as well as trigeminal ganglion (TG) cells. Methods Histochemical demonstration of AChE positive fibers, immunohistochemical study of the distribution patterns of multiple peptidergic terminals, double labelling of AChE and substance P (SP) and somatostatin (SOM) mRNA in situ hybridization were carried out in nasal mucosa and trigeminal ganglion (TG) in rats. Results AChE positive terminals were mainly distributed in the mid to posterior one third of septal nasal mucosa, with greater staining density on the walls of small vessels and glands. There were fewer such terminals in turbinate mucosa. Tachykinins ergic terminals, including substance P(SP) , neurokinin A (NKA) , neurokinin B(NKB) and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) ergic terminals, had an extensive localizations in nasal mucosa, involving the following areas: between epithelial cells, submucosa, the walls of small vessels, glands and venous sinusoids in both septal and turbinate nasal mucosa. Septal mucosa had the greater density. There were overlaps in the distribution of these peptidergic terminals. There were also vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) , neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin (GAL) ergic terminals in nasal mucosa. But no neurotensin (NT) and somatostatin (SOM) ergic terminals were found. In situ hybridization revealed SOMmRNA expression in TG cells. AChE and nine neuropeptides existed in the cytoplasms of TG cells. Besides, AChE and SP could exist simultaneously in cytoplasms of TG cells. Conclusions AChE positive (corresponding to parasympathetic nerves) and peptidergic terminals have different distribution patterns in the nasal mucosa of rats, although an overlap does exist, indicative of their different physiological effects on the regulation of nasal secretion and other functions; AChE and multiple neuropeptides in the cytoplasm of TG cells might play a role in modulating the nasal secretion in response to stimuli in the nasal mucosa.

Can You Feel the Love Tonight: A Dipeptidergic Circuit for Pleasant Touch

Soft and gentle touches such as the maternal caressing of infants foster a sense of well-being,promote social bonding,and have long-lasting impacts on the brain and behaviors.Dr.Xiang Yu's group recently identified a dipeptidergic excitatory circuit,from tachykinin 1(Tacl)-expressing neurons in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray(/vIPAG)to oxytocin neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamus(PVH),that mediates the enduring effects of gentle touch on social behaviors.

AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF CALCITONIN GENE-RELATED PEPTIDERGIC NERVE FIBERS IN RAT NASAL MUCOSA

The distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptidergic(CGRP) nerve endings in rat rat nasal mucosa was investigated with immunocytochemical technique (ABC method).The results showed that CGRP endings had a robust localization

肽能神经元对颈部急性炎性痛模型大鼠穴位敏化的调节作用

Objective:Pain is a health problem frequently reported in the clinical and general populations.Acupoint therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat pain;however,its mechanism remains unclear.Therefore,this study aimed to explore the relationship between distal acupoints,dorsal root ganglion(DRG)neurons,and spinal cord dorsal horn(SDH) neurons in neck acute inflammatory pain(NAIP).Methods:NAIP model rats were used to explore the relationship between acupoint sensitization and pain.Out of fourteen rats,ten rats were grouped into control and NAIP groups,five rats in control and five rats in NAIP.Mustard oil was subcutaneously injected on one side between the C4 and C7 vertebrae of the neck to establish an NAIP model.Evans blue(EB) was injected through the tail vein to detect sensitized acupoints after NAIP modeling.EB exudation in the body,Liè qūe(列缺 LU7),and Língdào(灵道 HT4) were evaluated.An immunofluorescence assay was conducted to detect the expression of calcitonin generelated peptide(CGRP),isolectin B4(IB4),and c-Fos in the dorsal root ganglion(DRG)and spinal cord dorsal medullae spinalis(CDMS).Four rats were used for the retrograde labeling of neurons of the LU7 region to the DRG and CDMS using CTB-488 and CTB-555 microinjection.Results:NAIP was shown to lead to oozing and pain sensitization in the LU7 and HT4 and increased the proportion of c-Fos^(+)/CGRP^(+)and c-Fos^(+)/IB4^(+)cells in both the DRG and CDMS.CTB-488 and CTB-555injected into the LU7 and sensitization point areas were observed in the DRG and CDMS regions of NAIP rats.Conclusions:Our study revealed that NAIP could lead to oozing and pain sensitization in the LU7 and HT4regions and that the pain point around LU7 might result from the transfer of peptidergic(CGRP-positive)and non-peptidergic(IB4-positive) neurons in the DRG and CDMS.