Expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P, and intermediate neurofilaments in nasal mucosal nerve fibers of horses without nasal disease

Optimisation and validation of immunohistochemical axonal markers for morphological and functional characterisation of equine peripheral nerves

BACKGROUND

Horses are affected by various peripheral nerve disorders but defining their aetiology and pathophysiology is hampered by limited understanding of associated morphological and pathological changes and involvement of specific axonal types.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the hypothesis that selected antibody markers, used in conjunction with various tissue processing methods, would enable identification of axons with different functional modalities within a range of equine peripheral nerves.

STUDY DESIGN

Optimisation and validation study.

METHODS

A range of antibodies were evaluated immunohistochemically via fluorescence confocal microscopy in cadaver equine nerve samples of primary motor, mixed or primary sensory functions (recurrent laryngeal, phrenic and plantar digital) within formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and formalin-fixed frozen (FFF) tissues subjected to different antigen retrieval protocols.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemistry of FFPE-derived nerve samples with selected antibodies and specific antigen retrieval methods enabled identification of myelinated and unmyelinated axons, cholinergic, sympathetic and peptidergic axons. The recurrent laryngeal and phrenic nerves are composed of myelinated cholinergic (motor), myelinated sensory fibres, unmyelinated adrenergic (sympathetic) axons and unmyelinated peptidergic (sensory) axons. In contrast, as expected, the plantar digital nerve had no myelinated motor fibres being mainly composed of myelinated sensory fibres, unmyelinated sympathetic and unmyelinated peptidergic sensory axons.

MAIN LIMITATION

Attempts specifically to label parasympathetic fibres were unsuccessful in any nerve examined in both FFPE and FFF tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

A panel of antibody markers can be used to reveal morphological and functional properties of equine nerves. Future work should enable better characterisation of morphological changes in equine neuropathies at various stages of disease development.

Distribution of substance P and the calcitonin gene-related peptide in the human tensor tympani muscle

Substance P-immunoreactive nerve fiber (SP-IR NF) and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerve fiber (CGRP-IR NF) are important mediators of neurogenic inflammation and blood supply. SP-IR and CGRP-IR NFs in the tensor tympani muscle (TTM) of the human middle ear have yet to be described. In this study, the TTM, tympanic membrane, malleus in the middle ear and tensor veli palatini muscle (TVPM) were examined by whole-mount immunohistochemistry in tissue from Japanese subjects. Thirteen human cadavers (ranging in age from 46 to 90 years) were used in this study. SP-IR and CGRP-IR NFs were primarily found on vessels at the origin, insertion and belly of the surface of the TTM and on the internal surface of the tympanic membrane. These neural factors were also detected on the surface of the malleus and the insertion of the TVPM. Therefore, our results indicate that existence of the SP-IR and CGRP-IR NFs of the TTM and the TVPM may reflect muscle properties involved in pain or inflammation of the middle ear.

Distributions of calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P in the human maxillary sinus of Japanese cadavers

BACKGROUND

Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are released by the nociceptive sensory nerve and are involved in blood flow, pain and inflammation in the nasal mucosa. The purpose of this study was to assess the distribution of the SP and CGRP nerve fibres related to blood supply within human Schneiderian membrane of the maxillary sinus (MS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study, the MS from Japanese cadavers was examined by whole-mount immunohistochemistry. Human male cadavers (ranging in age from 80 to 90 years) were used in this study.

RESULTS

SP- and CGRP-positive fibres were found around large vessels of the medialis superior alveolar branches and also within the floor region of the MS. The floor region of the MS was composed of complex branches of these fibres.

CONCLUSION

Our results give useful information for surgical sinus floor elevation in this region of the MS. These anatomical features may assist in the execution of a successful surgical procedure.

Characterisation of the response of equine digital arteries and veins to substance P

Substance P (SP), a potent vasodilator, has been detected in equine digital sensory-motor nerves. The aim of the study was to characterise the functional responses of equine digital blood vessels to exogenous SP. Pre-constricted equine digital arteries (EDA) and veins (EDV) vasodilated in a biphasic, endothelium- and concentration-dependent manner to SP. A nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME; 300 microm) inhibited both phases of the relaxation response curve of EDAs to SP by >70%. In EDVs, the first relaxant phase to SP was largely L-NAME-resistant, whereas the second phase was inhibited by 60%. Both L-NAME and a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor (ibuprofen; 10 microm) were required to inhibit EDV relaxation to SP by > or =80%. Experiments determining the receptor mediated responses to physiological concentrations of SP (1 nm) revealed that the relaxant responses of both EDA and EDV were inhibited by a neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist (CP-96 345; 10 nm). In conclusion, SP is an endothelium-dependent vasodilator of both EDA and EDV. NO is the predominant pathway activated in EDA, whereas both prostacyclin and NO pathways are involved in EDVs. NK1 receptors appear to mediate responses to low concentrations of SP.

Changes in nasal mucosal innervation in horses with grass sickness

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

Equine grass sickness is a dysautonomia characterised by widespread destruction of autonomic ganglia, resulting in the clinical signs of dysphagia, constipation, profuse sweating, tachycardia, rhinitis sicca and high mortality rate. Rhinitis sicca is a common finding in horses with the chronic form and we have postulated that alterations in autonomic innervation of the nasal mucosa might underlie this clinical presentation.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, the expression and distribution of nerve fibres immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), the general neuronal marker protein gene-product 9.5 (PGP 9.5; ubiquitin) and the intermediate neurofilaments (PAN-N; neurorfilaments L, M and H) in the nasal mucosa of normal horses (n = 10) and horses with EGS (n = 18; acute n = 8, subacute n = 3, chronic n = 7) was assessed.

METHODS

Innervation density and distribution was investigated in the different groups using standard immunohistochemical techniques.

RESULTS

Significant differences were noted when comparing the density and distribution of nerve fibres immunoreactive for PGP 95 and PAN-N, with PGP 95 consistently giving better staining in all groups and at all sites in the nasal mucosa. An apparent increase in the density of innervation was noted for acute vs. normal cases. A significant reduction in the density of innervation was noted only with PAN-N when comparing normal horses and acute cases with the chronic group (P < 0.05). CGRP and SP immunoreactive nerve fibres were typically most abundant in the epithelial and subepithelial layers, but the quality of staining and nerve fibre density was greater for SP, achieving significant difference in several comparisons. The density of innervation for SP was significantly reduced in the chronic group compared to the normal and acute groups (P < 0.01). A significant decrease was noted for CGRP only for the acute and chronic groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate a reduction in the expression of the sensory neuropeptides in nasal mucosal innervation as a consequence of equine dysautonomia, and may underlie the clinical presentation of rhinitis sicca noted with this disease.

POTENTIAL RELEVANCE

Nasal biopsy may be of use in antemortem diagnosis of grass sickness and identification of mucosal denervation; and might also be useful in the treatment of rhinitis in EGS cases.