Reclassification of the Sacral Autonomic Outflow to Pelvic Organs as the Caudal Outpost of the Sympathetic System Is Misleading

Subclinical lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella Enteritidis induces neuropeptide dysregulation in the spinal cord and the dorsal root ganglia

Background

Despite increasing evidence that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) affects the biological active substances of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) we have limited knowledge of the influence of a single low dose of LPS, which does not result in any clinical symptoms of disease (subclinical LPS) on neuropeptides connected with the sensory pathway. Accordingly, in this work, we investigated the influence of subclinical LPS from Salmonella Enteritidis on selected neuropeptides: substance P (SP), galanin (GAL), neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and somatostatin (SOM) in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral regions of the DRG and spinal cord.

Methods

This study was performed on immature female pigs of the Pietrain × Duroc breed. Seven days after the intravenous injection of saline solution for control animals (n = 5) and 5 μg/kg b.w. LPS from S. Enteritidis for the experimental group (n = 5), the DRG and the spinal cord were collected to extract the neuropeptides using solid-phase extraction technology.

Results

Our results demonstrated that subclinical LPS in DRG was able to change the levels of all studied neuropeptides except SOM, whereas in the spinal cord it down-regulated all studied neuropeptides in the sacral spinal cord, maintaining the concentration of all studied neuropeptides in other regions similar to that observed in the control animals. The significant differences in the intensity and character of observed changes between particular regions of the DRG suggest that the exact functions of the studied neuropeptides and mechanisms of responses to subclinical LPS action depend on specific characteristics and functions of each examination region of DRG.

Conclusions

The mechanisms of observed changes are not fully understood and require further study of the molecular interactions between subclinical LPS from S. Enteritidis and neuronal and non-neuronal cells of DRG and spinal cord. The peripheral and central pain pathways must be analysed with the aspect of unknown long-term consequences of the influence of subclinical LPS from S. Enteritidis on neuropeptides in the spinal cord and the dorsal root ganglia.

The sacral autonomic outflow is parasympathetic: Langley got it right

A recent developmental study of gene expression by Espinosa-Medina, Brunet and colleagues sparked controversy by asserting a revised nomenclature for divisions of the autonomic motor system. Should we re-classify the sacral autonomic outflow as sympathetic, as now suggested, or does it rightly belong to the parasympathetic system, as defined by Langley nearly 100 years ago? Arguments for rejecting Espinosa-Medina, Brunet et al.’s scheme subsequently appeared in e-letters and brief reviews. A more recent commentary in this journal by Brunet and colleagues responded to these criticisms by labeling Langley’s scheme as a historical myth perpetuated by ignorance. In reaction to this heated exchange, I now examine both sides to the controversy, together with purported errors by the pioneers in the field. I then explain, once more, why the sacral outflow should remain known as parasympathetic, and outline suggestions for future experimentation to advance the understanding of cellular identity in the autonomic motor system.