Peptidergic innervation in the rat carotid body after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of hypocapnic hypoxic exposure

T. Kusakabe; H. Hirakawa; H. Matsuda; T. Kawakami; T. Takenaka; Y. Hayashida

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Peptidergic innervation in the rat carotid body after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of hypocapnic hypoxic exposure

T. Kusakabe ^[1] ; H. Hirakawa ^[2] ; H. Matsuda ^[3] ; T. Kawakami ^[4] ; T. Takenaka ^[1] ; Y. Hayashida ^[2]
1. [1] Kokushikan University
  
  Kokushikan University
  
  Japón
2. [2] University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan
  
  University of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan
  
  Kokurakita Ku, Japón
3. [3] Yokohama City University
  
  Yokohama City University
  
  Naka Ku, Japón
4. [4] Kitasato University
  
  Kitasato University
  
  Japón
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Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 18, Nº. 2, 2003, págs. 409-418
Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
- The distribution and abundance of neuropeptide-containing nerve fibers were examined in the carotid bodies of rats exposed to hypocapnic hypoxia (10% O2 in N2) for 2, 4, and 8 weeks. The carotid bodies after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of hypoxic exposure were enlarged by 1.2-1.5 times in the short axis, and 1.3-1.7 times in the long axis in comparison with the normoxic control ones. The enlarged carotid bodies contained a number of expanded blood vessels. Mean density per unit area (104 µm2) of substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive fibers was transiently high in the carotid bodies after 4 weeks of hypoxic exposure, and decreased significantly to nearly or under 50% after 8 weeks of hypoxic exposure. Density of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactive fibers increased significantly in all periods of hypoxic exposure observed, and was especially high in the carotid bodies after 4 weeks of hypoxic exposure. Density of neuropeptide Y immunoreactive fibers was unchanged in the carotid bodies during hypoxic exposure. These characteristic changes in the density of SP, CGRP, and VIP fibers in the carotid bodies after 4 weeks of hypoxic exposure suggest that the role of these neuropeptide-containing fibers may be different in the carotid bodies after each of three periods of hypoxic exposure, and that the peptidergic innervation after 8 weeks of hypoxic exposure may show an acclimatizing state.