vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and proctolin

By use of the indirect immunoperoxidase method, the brain, the suboesophageal ganglion and the corpora cardiaca of the dragonfly Aeschna cyanea have been shown to be immunoreactive to proctolin antiserum and to several mammalian peptide antisera including unsulfated cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8 NS) (Andriès et al. 1989), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), human somatoliberin (hGRF) (Andriès et al. 1984) and motilin antisera. Immunohistochemical studies have been performed on material fixed in a solution of picricacid paraformaldehyde or in Bouin Hollande's sublimate solution. Antisera were applied on alternate sections or, according to the elution-restaining method of Tramu et al. (1978), one after another on the same section. Multiple peptide immunoreactivities appear expressed in the brain and the suboesophageal ganglion. Cells reactive to both hGRF and VIP antisera show also gastrin/CCK-like immunoreactivity and some of them are also detected by motilin antiserum. Besides, some cells immunopositive to CCK-8 NS and motilin antisera do not show hGRF or VIP immunoreactivity. At least, two pairs of protocerebral cells appear immunoreactive to both CCK-8 NS and proctolin antisera. Therefore, the present observations support our previously developed idea (Andriès et al. 1989) that the population of CCK-like cells is heterogenous.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies; Ganglia; Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; Immunohistochemistry; Insecta; Motilin; Nervous System; Neuropeptides; Oligopeptides; Sincalide; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Punch biopsies were obtained from the buccal gingiva of the lower third molars. Thin nerve fibres, immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or substance P (SP), with possible sensory function, were found in the propria often close to the epithelium, sometimes even penetrating into the basal layers. gamma-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (gamma-MSH)-like immunoreactivity was found in sparsely distributed single cells (except in one specimen containing a dense infiltration), resembling neutrophilic granulocytes of the propria. gamma-MSH was present in several single smooth axons and in thick axon bundles of the propria. Surrounding the blood vessels, neuropeptide Y (NPY), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peptide histidine isoleucine amide (PHI) immunoreactive nerve fibres were observed. NPY and TH-positive fibres probably represent sympathetic nerve terminals and VIP/PHI-immunoreactive ones may have a parasympathetic function. Papillae of the propria contained VIP-positive fibres not obviously related to blood vessels. The distribution in papillae of PHI-like immunoreactivity was similar but the PHI-positive reaction was also present in a few cells of the propria, especially near blood vessels. Somatostatin (SOM)-positive reaction occurred in a few dendritic-type cells near or in the epithelium and single nerve fibres close to the epithelium. Several thick axon bundles of the propria contained neurofilament (NF)-immunoreactive material. Some thin NF-fibres were found in the papillae and some seemed to penetrate into the epithelium. No galanin, methionine-enkephalin, parathyroid hormone or proctolin immunoreactive material was found. The rather rich content of several neuropeptides in human attached gingiva, as well as other neurochemical markers, is probably associated with sensory and autonomic functions.

Topics: Adult; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Cytoskeleton; Enkephalins; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Galanin; Gingiva; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Intermediate Filaments; Male; Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; Neuropeptide Y; Neuropeptides; Oligopeptides; Parathyroid Hormone; Peptide PHI; Peptides; Somatostatin; Substance P; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide