Neuropeptide tyrosine-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) in ganglion neurons in the adrenal gland of the flat snake (Waglerophis merremii).

OREZZOLI, A.A., V. GONZALEZ NICOLINI, M.J. VILLAR, T. HÖKFELT AND J.H. TRAMEZZANI

BIOCELL

INST HISTOL EMBRIOL-CONICET

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 1998 vol. 22 p. 85 - 91

0327-9545

Abstract In previous morphological and histochemical studies on the adrenal gland of the flat snake, no data demonstrating the existence of ganglion neurons has been reported. The aim of this paper was therefore to establish the presence of ganglion neurons in the adrenal gland of the flat snake Waglerophis merremii and, further to study their chemical phenotype using immunohistochemistry. Our results showed the presence of cells which were immunolabelled with the neuronal marker neurofilament 10 and were thus identified as large ganglion neurons. These cells were localized in the dorsal ribbon of the gland, suggesting a noradrenergic phenotype, exhibited long processes with a longitudinal direction and co-expressed neuropeptide tyrosine- (NPY) and tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactivities (-LI). In addition, NPY-immunoreactive (-IR) fibers were recognized with a wide distribution throughout the gland whereas vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-IR fibers were only observed between clusters of cortical and adrenergic chromaffin cells. No cells containing VIP-LI were detected within the gland. Based on their histochemical phenotype, ganglion cells containing NPY and TH could correspond to ganglion neurons type I of the rat. The possible absence of type II ganglion neurons in the adrenal gland of the snake is discussed. PMID: 10904528 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Related citations