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Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript-Immunoreactivity in the Rat Sympatho-Adrenal Axis

Distribution of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript-like immunoreactivity (CART-LI) was studied in the rat spinal cord, sympathetic ganglia and adrenal glands by immunohistochemical methods, utilizing a polyclonal antiserum raised against the CART peptide fragment 55-102. CART-LI was detected in nerve fibers and in basket-like terminals surrounding many postganglionic neurons of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), stellate, paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia. Postganglionic neurons exhibited low or non-detectable levels of CART-LI. Surgical sectioning of the cervical sympathetic trunk for 6-7 days resulted in a nearly complete loss of CART-LI fibers and terminals in the SCG. In the adrenal gland, CART-LI nerve fibers formed a plexus underneath the capsule, some of which bifurcated and made a sharp turn toward the adrenal medulla, where clusters of chromaffin cells were intensely labeled. The detection of CART-LI in sympathetic ganglia and adrenal glands extends the previous observation of the presence of CART-LI in sympathetic preganglionic neurons and further supports the notion that CART peptide(s) may function as a signaling molecule in the sympatho-adrenal axis.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etsu-works-15808
Date07 April 2000
CreatorsDun, N. J., Dun, S. L., Kwok, E. H., Yang, J., Chang, J. K.
PublisherDigital Commons @ East Tennessee State University
Source SetsEast Tennessee State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
SourceETSU Faculty Works

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