Abstract
Both [Leu5]- and [Met5]-enkephalin have been localized immunohistochemically in nerve fibres and in small, intensely fluorescent cells of adult human sympathetic ganglia. The nerve fibres showing enkephalin-like immunoreactivity formed a network varying in density around the sympathetic neurons, some being closely related to the perikarya. No labelled neuronal cell bodies were found. No structures within the ganglion were labelled after reaction with antibodies to vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, adrenocorticotrophin or substance P. No differences between the distributions of [Leu5]-and [Met5]-enkephalin-like immunoreactivities were found. The physiological roles of enkephalins are still unknown, but it is possible that they might act as neurotransmitters or neuromodulators in the human sympathetic nervous system.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 323-330 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Neuroscience |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1981 |
Funding
Acknowledgements-Thrise searchw ass upportedb y grants from the Emil Aaltonen Foundation and the Medica Scientific Foundation in Finland as well as by NIH grants MH24285,N S06911,H L18974,a nd R. J. Miller LDA02121-01V. .M.P. also holds a ResearchC areerD evel-opmentA ward (MHOO078).
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience