Immunohistochemical characteristics of neurons in nodose ganglia projecting to the different chambers of the rat heart

Abstract Despite the contribution of nodose ganglia neurons to the innervation of the heart being the subject of several studies, specific neuronal subpopulations innervating the four different chambers of the heart have not been distinguished. In our study, the application of Fast Blue-loaded patch...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Autonomic neuroscience 2010-06, Vol.155 (1), p.33-38
Main Authors: Košta, Vana, Guić, Maja Marinović, Aljinović, Jure, Sapunar, Damir, Grković, Ivica
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advanced Basic Science
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Calbindin 2
Calretinin
Fast Blue
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heart - innervation
IB4
Immunohistochemistry
Medical Education
N52
Neurofilament Proteins - biosynthesis
Neurons - cytology
Neurons - metabolism
Nodose ganglion
Nodose Ganglion - cytology
Nodose Ganglion - metabolism
Peripheral nervous system. Autonomic nervous system. Neuromuscular transmission. Ganglionic transmission. Electric organ
Rat heart
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
S100 Calcium Binding Protein G - biosynthesis
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Despite the contribution of nodose ganglia neurons to the innervation of the heart being the subject of several studies, specific neuronal subpopulations innervating the four different chambers of the heart have not been distinguished. In our study, the application of Fast Blue-loaded patch to the epicardial surface of different chambers of the rat heart (the right or left atrium or the right or left ventricle) resulted in labeling of discrete populations of immunohistochemically diverse neurons. About one half (55%) of these neurons showed immunoreactivity for the 200-kDa neurofilament protein (marker of myelinated neurons), with a higher proportion of positive staining among neurons projecting to the left than to the right ventricle. Isolectin B4 immunoreactivity (characteristic for a subset of nonmyelinated non-peptidergic neurons) was more abundant among neurons projecting to the right side of the heart (right atria and right ventricles) compared to the left side (23% vs. 16%). Calretinin immunoreactivity (possible marker of mechanosensitive neurons) was significantly higher among neurons projecting to the ventricles than among those projecting to atria (36% vs. 11%). These findings reveal that chambers of the rat heart are innervated with immunohistochemically different subpopulations of neurons from the nodose ganglia.
ISSN:1566-0702
1872-7484
DOI:10.1016/j.autneu.2010.01.001