Abstract
Factors regulating the putative peptide neurotransmitter, substance P, were examined in the adult rat sympathetic superior cervical ganglion (SCG). Surgical section of the preganglionic nerves resulted in a 55% increase in ganglion content of SP-like immunoreactivity (subsequently termed SP). Treatment with chlorisondamine, which blocks nicotinic ganglionic transmission, also increased SP, reproducing the effects of decentralization. Conversely, treatment with phenoxybenzamine, which reflexly increases sympathetic activity, reduced ganglion SP. Axotomy of the postganglionic nerves did not alter ganglion SP. Finally, treatment of rats as neonates with 6-hydroxydopamine, which selectively destroys principal ganglion neurons, profoundly decreased SP in the adult SCG. Our observations suggest that impulse activity of preganglionic nerves decreases ganglion SP in principal ganglion neurons through a transsynaptic process. Viewed in conjunction with previous work, our studies suggest that transsynaptic stimulation has opposite effects on SP and noradrenergic transmitter characters in the SCG.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 182-187 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Brain research |
| Volume | 234 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 18 1982 |
Funding
We thank Ms. Robyn Walsh, Mrs. Betty Mayer and Ms. Elise Grossman for excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by N IH Grants HDI2108 and N S10259 and aided by grants from the National Foundation-March of Dimes and the Cerebral Palsy Association. J.A.K. is the recipient of Teacher-Investigator Award NS00351. I.B.B. is the recipient of the Irma T. Hirschl Career Scientist Award.
Keywords
- 6-hydroxydopamine
- chlorisondamine
- neuropeptide
- phenoxybenzamine
- superior cervical ganglion
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Molecular Biology
- General Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology