Localization of L-glutamate decarboxylase immunoreactivity in the major pelvic ganglion and in the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion complex of the rat

The localization of L-glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), the GABA-synthesizing enzyme, was studied in the rat major pelvic ganglion and in the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion complex by indirect immunofluorescence technique with a specific antiserum raised in rabbits. GAD immunoreactivity was demonstrated in small cells of these ganglia. The GAD-immunoreactive small cells were 10-20 microns in diameter and formed clusters or occurred as solitary cells. The principal neurons were non-reactive but they were surrounded by immunoreactive processes. Studies on colocalization of GAD with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme of the catecholamine synthesis, in the major pelvic ganglion and in the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion complex indicated that all GAD-immunoreactive small cells were also labelled with TH. In the major pelvic ganglion all TH-immunoreactive SIF cells were also immunoreactive for GAD. However, in the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion complex there occurred TH-immunoreactive small cells which showed no immunoreactivity to GAD. It is suggested that the small GAD-immunoreactive cells represent small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells.

Immunohistochemical localization of 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine and histidine decarboxylase in the rat major pelvic and coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion

The localization of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), histamine and histidine decarboxylase (HDC), the enzyme synthesizing histamine, was studied in the rat major pelvic and coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglia by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. Small cells (10-20 microns in diameter) exhibiting 5-HT, histamine or HDC immunoreactivities were observed in clusters or occurred as solitary cells in both ganglia. In the major pelvic ganglia, solitary histamine-immunoreactive principal neurons were also observed. Colocalization studies indicated that all 5-HT-, histamine- and HDC-immunoreactive small cells in these ganglia were labelled with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), suggesting that they are small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells. In the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglia, all TH-immunoreactive SIF cells were also intensely immunoreactive for 5-HT and HDC. In the major pelvic ganglia, all TH-immunoreactive SIF cells contained 5-HT immunoreactivity, and the majority of them were also intensely immunoreactive for HDC. In both ganglia, however, only a subpopulation of TH-immunoreactive SIF cells displayed histamine immunoreactivity. The results indicate that in the rat major pelvic and coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglia, a population of catecholamine-containing SIF cells contain 5-HT and histamine suggesting a diverse role SIF cells may have in so far as modulation of ganglion transmission is concerned.

Comparison of immunohistochemical localization of [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8, [Met5]enkephalin, neuropeptide Y and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the superior cervical ganglion of the rat

The localization of [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 and [Met5]enkephalin immunoreactivities was studied in the rat superior cervical ganglion. The distribution of these enkephalin-containing peptides in the ganglion was correlated to that of neuropeptide Y and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. Three different populations of peptide-containing postganglionic neurons were demonstrated. (1) A minor population (10-20%) of principal neurons was immunoreactive for [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 but not immunoreactive for neuropeptide Y nor vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. (2) The major population (about 50-70%) was immunoreactive for neuropeptide Y but not for [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8. (3) Few vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive principal neurons (less than 2% of all principal neurons) were observed in the ganglion. All vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive neurons were also immunoreactive for neuropeptide Y but not for [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8. [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8- and [Met5]enkephalin-immunoreactive nerve fibers had a similar distribution. These enkephalin immunoreactive nerve fibers were seen to enclose both neuropeptide Y-containing principal neurons and neurons devoid of neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity. Furthermore, there were enkephalin-immunoreactive fiber baskets around vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive neurons and sometimes also around solitary enkephalin-immunoreactive neurons. Previously reported diverse role of enkephalins in the rat superior cervical ganglion is supported by this study.

5-Hydroxytryptamine-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the rat and porcine prevertebral sympathetic ganglia: effect of precursor loading and relation to catecholaminergic neurons

Localization of 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactivity was studied in the rat coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion complex and in the porcine superior and inferior mesenteric ganglia by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. In normal rats, only 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactive SIF cells were seen in the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion complex. In the rats, pretreated with a 5-hydroxytryptamine precursor, L-tryptophan, and with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, nialamide, a large number of 5-hydroxytryptamine-immunoreactive nerve fiber terminals were detected. In normal porcine superior and inferior mesenteric ganglia, intense 5-hydroxytryptamine immunoreactivity was found in numerous nerve fibers which were located around tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive principal neurons. The origin and function of these fibers are discussed.

Comparison of immunohistochemical localization of [Met5] enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and tyrosine hydroxylase in the major pelvic ganglion of the rat

The major pelvic ganglion is an autonomic ganglion containing both sympathetic and parasympathetic postganglionic neuronal cell bodies. The existence of the proenkephalin A-derived peptide [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 immunoreactivity in the rat major pelvic ganglion has been described quite recently. The aim of this study was to compare the relations of [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8-containing postganglionic neurons and nerve fibers to noradrenergic (tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive) and non-noradrenergic (putative cholinergic) neurons of the rat major pelvic ganglion. Immunohistochemical double staining and elution-restaining techniques were used to investigate the distribution of [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 in correlation with tyrosine hydroxylase and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The major pelvic ganglion contained neurons immunoreactive either for tyrosine hydroxylase or vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. Many principal neurons, however, were immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase nor vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. [Met5]Enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8-immunoreactive principal neurons formed a minor subpopulation in the ganglion and were not immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase. The majority of [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8-immunoreactive principal cells were non-immunoreactive for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, but a few of them also contained vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. In contrast to the large [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8-immunoreactive principal neurons, which formed a population of non-noradrenergic (putative cholinergic) cells, the small [Met5]enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8-immunoreactive cell exhibited intense tyrosine hydroxylase immunofluorescence and represented a subpopulation of small, intensely fluorescent cells. [Met5]Enkephalin-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8-immunoreactive pericellular fiber plexuses were found around tyrosine hydroxylase- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive principal neurons and in association with small intensity fluorescent cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Costs and practicability of clean feeding of dairy cattle during radioactive contamination of grasslands

Both the farm-specific and regional costs of clean feeding as a countermeasure to reduce ingestion of contaminated grass when there is insufficient supply of other types of roughage were estimated for dairy farming in Finland in the first year after contamination. The cost estimation considered expenditures and revenues associated with milk production and were calculated using farm models developed for economic planning. A hypothetical contamination scenario was designed using RODOS models for atmospheric dispersion and transfer in terrestrial food chains. Costs for intervention after two similar hypothetical atmospheric dispersion and deposition scenarios in early June and in July were estimated. As a reference, the cost of complete replacement of fodder throughout the area was also calculated. Feed substitution costs were higher in June than in July, due to the availability of some harvested silage in the later scenario. In the first case, the additional costs of clean feeding amounted to one-fifth of the normal production costs. Effective advisory/support services, available to farmers, can substantially improve the implementation of countermeasures. However, high costs and insufficient sources of clean feed would restrict the use of clean feeding as the sole countermeasure after serious contamination during the growing season.