Re. Papka et al., PARASYMPATHETIC PREGANGLIONIC NEURONS IN THE SPINAL-CORD INVOLVED IN UTERINE INNERVATION ARE CHOLINERGIC AND NITRIC OXIDE-CONTAINING, The Anatomical record, 241(4), 1995, pp. 554-562
Background: The purpose of this study was to elucidate parasympathetic
preganglionic neurons in the spinal cord that project axons in pathwa
ys to the uterus and to reveal their neurotransmitter phenotype. Metho
ds: ''Uterine-related'' neurons were identified by using a combination
of retrograde axonal tracers: (1) Fluorogold injected into the gangli
a of termination of preganglionic fibers, and (2) a transganglionic ax
onal tracer (pseudorabies virus) injected into the uterus. Immunohisto
chemistry was used to reveal virus-labeled neurons and their neurotran
smitter marker. Results: Double-labeled (Fluorogold + pseudorabies vir
us) ''uterine'' preganglionic neurons were identified in the sacral pa
rasympathetic nucleus of the rat lumbosacral spinal cord, Subpopulatio
ns of neurons in the sacral parasympathetic nucleus were shown to be i
mmunoreactive for choline acetyltransferase or nitric oxide synthase.
Double-staining immunohistochemistry (for pseudorabies virus + neurotr
ansmitter enzyme) revealed that some of the uterine-related preganglio
nic neurons were cholinergic and some nitric oxide synthase-containing
. Conclusions: These results demonstrate a subpopulation of preganglio
nic parasympathetic neurons in the sacral parasympathetic nucleus that
are involved in uterine innervation. In addition, both acetylcholine
and nitric oxide could be used to modify activity in the postganglioni
c neurons, which directly innervate the uterus. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, I
nc.