Biomaterial Database

Correlation of vasoactive intestinal peptide and nitric oxide synthase with choline acetyltransferase in the airway innervation. 1996

A Fischer, and B J Canning, and W Kummer

Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany. axel.fischer@anatomie.med.uni-giessen.de

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and nitric oxide (NO) are potent mediators of neural airway smooth muscle relaxation. The major contractile mediator released by airway nerves under physiological conditions is acetylcholine (ACh). In the present study, we have correlated the immunohistochemical distribution of the relaxant mediators using antisera to VIP, to the marker enzyme of catecholamine synthesis tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and to the NO-generating enzyme NO-synthase (NOS) with the distribution of the ACh-synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and of substance P (SP), a neuropeptide present in sensory nerve fibers. In guinea-pig airways, VIP- and NOS-immunoreactivity (IR) were present in numerous nerve fibers in the airway smooth muscle and around submucosal glands; some fibers were also seen in the lamina propria and around blood vessels. The neuronal cell bodies in the intrinsic ganglia were devoid of both VIP- and NOS-IR. In contrast, all neuronal cell bodies in the intrinsic ganglia were immunoreactive for ChAT. In human airways, immunoreactivity for VIP, NOS, and ChAT was found in airway intrinsic neuronal perikarya. Whereas ChAT-IR appeared to be most frequent in the cell bodies, VIP-IR was seen in the largest number of nerve fibers in the airways. Therefore, in guinea pigs, a clear neuroanatomical and neurochemical separation of relaxant and of constrictor pathways is seen, whereas in human airways, both separate pathways as well as coexpression of VIP-/NOS- and of ChAT-IR are found.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008168	Lung	Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood.	Lungs
D009130	Muscle, Smooth	Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D009412	Nerve Fibers	Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D009475	Neurons, Afferent	Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D012137	Respiratory System	The tubular and cavernous organs and structures, by means of which pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange between ambient air and the blood are brought about.	Respiratory Tract,Respiratory Systems,Respiratory Tracts,System, Respiratory,Tract, Respiratory
D012143	Respiratory Physiological Phenomena	Physiological processes and properties of the RESPIRATORY SYSTEM as a whole or of any of its parts.	Respiratory Physiologic Processes,Respiratory Physiological Processes,Respiratory Physiology,Physiology, Respiratory,Pulmonary Physiological Phenomena,Pulmonary Physiological Phenomenon,Pulmonary Physiological Process,Pulmonary Physiological Processes,Respiratory Physiological Concepts,Respiratory Physiological Phenomenon,Respiratory Physiological Process,Concept, Respiratory Physiological,Concepts, Respiratory Physiological,Phenomena, Pulmonary Physiological,Phenomena, Respiratory Physiological,Phenomenas, Pulmonary Physiological,Phenomenas, Respiratory Physiological,Phenomenon, Pulmonary Physiological,Phenomenon, Respiratory Physiological,Phenomenons, Pulmonary Physiological,Phenomenons, Respiratory Physiological,Physiologic Processes, Respiratory,Physiological Concept, Respiratory,Physiological Concepts, Respiratory,Physiological Phenomena, Pulmonary,Physiological Phenomena, Respiratory,Physiological Phenomenas, Pulmonary,Physiological Phenomenas, Respiratory,Physiological Phenomenon, Pulmonary,Physiological Phenomenon, Respiratory,Physiological Phenomenons, Pulmonary,Physiological Phenomenons, Respiratory,Physiological Process, Pulmonary,Physiological Process, Respiratory,Physiological Processes, Pulmonary,Physiological Processes, Respiratory,Process, Pulmonary Physiological,Process, Respiratory Physiological,Processes, Pulmonary Physiological,Pulmonary Physiological Phenomenas,Pulmonary Physiological Phenomenons,Respiratory Physiological Concept,Respiratory Physiological Phenomenas,Respiratory Physiological Phenomenons
D002795	Choline O-Acetyltransferase	An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of acetylcholine from acetyl-CoA and choline. EC 2.3.1.6.	Choline Acetylase,Choline Acetyltransferase,Acetylase, Choline,Acetyltransferase, Choline,Choline O Acetyltransferase,O-Acetyltransferase, Choline
D006168	Guinea Pigs	A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research.	Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man