Lectin and Peptide Expression in Nodose, Sphenopalatine and Superior Cervical Ganglia of the Rat

Abstract

The presence and distribution of Griffonia Simplicifolia I-B4 (GSA I-B4) and Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide (CGRP) were studied in the nodose ganglion (NG) (inferior ganglion of the vagus nerve), sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) and superior cervical ganglion (SCG) of the rat. GSA I-B4 labeling was found in all ganglia tested. Neither SPG nor SCG cell bodies stained with CGRP were undetectable. The pattern of the distribution of GSA I-B4 and CGRP labeled cells were quite similar in the nodose ganglion. They were found in the poles of the ganglion with some marginal labeling. Large numbers of GSA I-B4 and CGRP labeled cells were found and the number of labeled cells did not vary considerably between the two markers in this ganglion. GSA I-B4 labeled neurons of the SPG and SCG were fewer in numbers compared with NG. These data demonstrate the presence of a "non-peptide" population of unmyelinated primary afferents in sensory and autonomic ganglia with the lack of CGRP immunoreactivity in the autonomic ganglia. This suggests that the "non-peptide" group of primary afferents are involved in different functional mechanisms than peptidergic afferents.