SUBSTANCE P-IMMUNOREATIVE AND CGRP-IMMUNOREACTIVE FIBERS IN THE CHICKEN CAROTID-BODIES AFTER NODOSE GANGLIONECTOMY AND MIDCERVICAL VAGOTOMY

The chicken carotid body is richly innervated by branches from the vag us nerve immunostained with the monoclonal antibody TuJ1 to neuron-spe cific class III beta-tubulin. Furthermore, peptidergic nerve fibers ar e densely distributed in and around the carotid body. After transectio n of the vagus nerve proximal to the nodose ganglion, TuJ1-immunoreact ive fibers did not change in density but substance P- and CGRP-immunor eactive fibers were conspicuously decreased in and around the carotid body. After removal of the nodose ganglion, TuJ1-immunoreactive fibers markedly diminished and substance P- and CGRP-immunoreactive fibers a lmost disappeared. These results indicate that the vast majority of su bstance P- and CGRP-immunoreactive fibers in the chicken carotid body originate from the vagal ganglia. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.