Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) innervation of rat spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes

  • Denise L. Bellinger
  • , Dianne Lorton
  • , Laura Horn
  • , Sabine Brouxhon
  • , Suzanne Y. Felten
  • , David L. Felten

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In the thymus, VIP positive of fibers were found in the capsular/septal system, cortex, and medulla. In the spleen, VIP nerve coursed along large arteries and central arterioles, and in the white pulp, venous/trabecular system, and red pulp. Splenic VIP innervation was more robust in Long Evans hooded rats in Fischer 344 rats. VIP nerves in mesenteric lymph nodes were found in the cortex and along the cortical vasculature and medullary cords. No VIP innervation who observed in popliteal lymph nodes. Immunocytes also were VIP suggesting that both neural and cellular synthesis of VIP contributes to VIP concentration in lymphoid organs. Surgical symphatectomy did not alter splenic or thymic VIP content, respectively, and VIP innervation of these organs was not altered, suggesting an origin for VIP nerves other than the sympathetic nervous system.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1139-1149
Number of pages11
JournalPeptides
Volume18
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Keywords

  • Fischer 344 rats
  • Immunocytochemistry
  • Long Evans hooded rats
  • VIP innervation

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