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. 1997 Mar;81(3):223–227. doi: 10.1136/bjo.81.3.223

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide and nitric oxide synthase are expressed in the rat ciliary ganglion

T Elsas 1, R Uddman 1, H Mulder 1, F Sundler 1
PMCID: PMC1722144  PMID: 9135387

Abstract

AIMS—To study the distribution in the rat ciliary ganglion of neurons synthesising and storing the recently discovered neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS), the neuronal marker of the novel gaseous transmitter nitric oxide.
METHODS—Neurons expressing PACAP and neuronal NOS mRNA were identified in the rat ciliary ganglion by in situ hybridisation with radiolabelled oligonucleotide probes. Immunocytochemistry was used to demonstrate immunoreactive neuropeptides and NOS.
RESULTS—Immunocytochemistry demonstrated immunoreactivity for PACAP and NOS in a small number of neuronal cell bodies. In situ hybridisation revealed that NOS and PACAP were expressed in numerous ganglion cell somata. The well established ciliary messengers vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuropeptide Y were found in a large number of neuronal cell bodies.
CONCLUSION—These results demonstrate that PACAP and NOS are synthesised and stored in the ciliary ganglion. These findings further illustrate the mixed nature of the ciliary ganglion and may provide a basis for the understanding of the diverse physiological functions of this ganglion.



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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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In situ hybridisation with radiolabelled oligonucleotide probes for PACAP mRNA (A), NOS mRNA (B), VIP mRNA (C), and NPY mRNA (D) in the ciliary ganglion of the rat. A moderate number of nerve cell bodies expressing PACAP, albeit at a low level is seen (A; indicated by arrows). NOS mRNA is present in a moderate number of nerve cell bodies (B), while VIP and NPY are seen in greater number of nerve cell bodies (C, D); in this particular section labelled for VIP mRNA, all nerve bodies express VIP (C). Bar = 50 µm.

Figure 2  .

Figure 2  

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Immunofluorescence for PACAP (A), NOS (B), VIP (C), and NPY (D) in the ciliary ganglion of the rat. A solitary PACAP immunoreactive nerve cell body (A; arrow) is seen as well as a supply of fine varicose PACAP-containing nerve fibres (A; indicated by arrowheads). NOS is harboured in a moderate number of nerve cell bodies (B; indicated by a solitary nerve cell body, arrow), while VIP and NPY occur in numerous nerve cell bodies and fibres in the ciliary ganglion (C, D; fibres indicated by arrows). Bar = 50 µm.

Selected References

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