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W Neuhuber

Publications and source records attributed to W Neuhuber.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Peripheral noxious stimulation releases spinal PGE2 during the first phase in the formalin assay of the rat.

Injection of formalin (5%; 50 microl) into the dorsal surface of the hind paw of rats evoked a characteristic biphasic flinching behaviour of the injured paw accompanied by a significant increase in the interstitial prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentration of the dorsal lumbar spinal cord. Interestingly, the increase in PGE2 concentration was only observed during the first phase of the formalin behavioural response (during the 0-10 and 10-20 min microdialysis-sample). Saline paw injection did not have a significant effect on behaviour or on PGE2 concentration. These data suggest that spinal release of PGE2 is involved in nociceptive processing in the formalin-induced hyperalgesia model of the rat during the first but not second phase.

Animals↗

Immunohistochemical localization of neuropeptides in the human ciliary ganglion.

In human ciliary ganglia, 18% of neurons were in contact with substance P (SP) and 12% with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) like-immunoreactive (LI) varicose axons. CGRP was colocalized with SP. Numerous SP-LI and CGRP-LI non-varicose nerve fibers were found between the ganglion cells and in nerve trunks that entered the ganglia. Axons immunoreactive for neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) never contacted neuronal cell bodies. Perikarya of ciliary neurons neither stained for any of the neuropeptides nor for DBH. 23% of ciliary perikarya were TH-immunoreactive. These observations suggest an innervation of human ciliary ganglion neurons by peptidergic primary afferent collaterals presumably of trigeminal origin.

Adult↗

The distribution of anterogradely labeled I--IV primary afferents in histochemically defined compartments of the rat's sternomastoid muscle.

The sternomastoid muscle of the rat is divided into a white (dominated by fast-glycolytic twitch fibers) and a red (dominated by fast oxidative-glycolytic twitch fibers, but also containing slow-oxidative twitch fibers) compartment. Previous reports on exclusive location of muscle spindles in the red portion were confirmed. On the basis of anterograde labeling with horseradish peroxidase-wheat germ agglutinine conjugate (WGA-HRP) it was shown in this study that, in addition to muscle spindle compartmentalisation, there was also an exclusive occurrence of tendon organs in the red part of the muscle; moreover, fine afferents (III- and IV-afferents) were mainly distributed to this portion as well. Radioimmunassay studies revealed that this part of the muscle contained twice as much substance P as the white part. It could be shown by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry that the myelinated fibers of the white branch to the muscle exclusively displayed high enzyme activity which is characteristic for motor fibers; on the other hand, in the branch to the red portion two classes of AChE-positive fibers were found: a large one with a peak in the alpha-range, and a small one with a peak in the gamma-range. In addition, there was also a group of enzyme-negative (sensory) fibers. These results also indicate the red portion of the sternomastoid muscle to be its "sensory compartment".

Acetylcholinesterase↗

Dynamics of the transganglionic movement of horseradish peroxidase in primary sensory neurons.

The dynamics of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) transport in primary sensory neurons were studied in rats by demonstration of the reaction product in spinal nerves, spinal ganglia, dorsal roots and in the spinal cord at different survival times after applcation of the enzyme to the transected sciatic nerve and to the spinal cord. Using tetramethylbenzidine as the chromogen according to Mesulam (1978), transganglionic transport of HRP was shown in both the disto-proximal direction after peripheral application, and proximo-distal direction after central application. Significant differences in staining intensity between the central and peripheral processes of primary sensory neurons were found after all survival times used in this study. After peripheral application the number of labeled axons and the staining intensity were higher in spinal nerves than in dorsal roots; an inverse situation occurred after central application. These differences as well as the time sequences in staining of different parts of primary sensory neurons suggest that HRP applied to a peripheral nerve and to the spinal cord, respectively, enters the perikarya of spinal ganglion cells in any case before continuing its movement in a cellulifugal direction. Lysosomal degradation of the major portion of the applied HRP is supposed. However, in the post-perikaryal portion of a considerable number of neurons HRP-transport still occurs to a varying extent, thus resulting in labeling of nerve endings. In some neurons a post-perikaryal transport could not be detected light microscopically. The transport rates differ: the calculated transport rate of disto-proximal, cellulipetal movement in the fastest transporting neurons was 7.5 mm/h, that of the disto-proximal cellulifugal movement 2.5 to 3 mm/h.

Afferent Pathways↗

The ansa cervicalis and the infrahyoid muscles of the rat. II. Motor and sensory neurons.

Perikarya of motoneurons and spinal ganglion cells attributed to infrahyoid muscle nerves of the rat were labelled by retrogradely transported horseradish peroxidase (HRP). For the differentiation of motor and sensory axons cross sections of the nerves were stained for acetylcholinesterase. Numbers and diameter distributions of perikarya and myelinated axons were determined. Motoneuronal perikarya innervating the infrahyoid muscles are located from the transition zone brain stem/spinal cord to the segment C 3. They are found mostly in the medial part of the Rexed laminae VII and VIII at the level of C 1 and C 2 and more ventrolaterally in C 3 and are therefore located to a large extent in areas until now not recognized to contain motoneurons. Our results provide evidence for a somatotopic organization of the motoneurons in the upper cervical spinal cord. The diameter distributions of motoneuronal perikarya and axons are in most cases bimodal, the two modes corresponding to alpha- and gamma-motoneurons. In relation to the diameters of their perikarya alpha-axons are significantly thicker than gamma-axons. In contrast to the motoneurons no clear correlation could be established between the sizes of perikarya of spinal ganglion cells and their peripheral processes.

Animals↗

Afferent neurons of the hypoglossal nerve of the rat as demonstrated by horseradish peroxidase tracing.

Cell bodies of sensory neurons of the rat's hypoglossal nerve were demonstrated by the somatopetal horseradish peroxidase (HRP) transport technique. Labelled perikarya were found within the second and third cervical spinal ganglia and in the vagal sensory ganglia. After application of HRP to the cut peripheral trunk of the hypoglossal nerve about 200 labelled cell bodies were counted in each animal. The vast majority of the axons from cervical spinal ganglion cells reach the hypoglossal nerve via the descending ramus (N. descendens hypoglossi). However, there may exist an additional pathway, probably via the cervical sympathetic trunk. Application of HPR to the medial and lateral end branches led to a labelling of much fewer spinal ganglion cells while the number of labelled vegal sensory neurons remained unchanged. Thus, it is suggested that the majority of the cervical afferents of the hypoglossal nerve originates within the extrinsic tongue musculature and the geniohyoid muscle, whereas the vagal afferents may perhaps derive exclusively from the intrinsic muslces. Histograms of the mean diameters of labelled cell bodies show a predominance of very small perikarya. This contrasts with the diameter distribution of sensory perikarya labelled after HRP application to nerves supplying other skeletal muscles. It is therefore assumed that the afferent component of the hypoglossal nerve is composed mainly of small-calibre axons.

Animals↗

Differential labeling by horseradish peroxidase of small and large spinal neurons of rats.

Solid horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was applied to the crushed peroneal nerves of rats and its retrograde transport to spinal ganglion cells and spinal motoneurons was examined after varying survival times. Following short (22-39 h) survival times predominantly small sensory and motoneuronal cell bodies contained HRP. Following long intervals (72-96 h), the percentage of labeled large cells increased in both groups of neurons. The differences were more pronounced in sensory than in motoneurons.

Animals↗

Spinal ganglion cells innervating the stomach of the rat as demonstrated by somatopetal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP).

Spinal ganglion cells innervating the stomach of the rat were demonstrated using the somatopetal horseradish peroxidase (HRP) transport technique. After injection of the tracer into the anterior wall of the stomach, labelled neurons were observed bilaterally within spinal ganglia T4--L1. They were most numerous in ganglia T8--T10. No clear evidence of somatotopic organization of the labelled cells was found. Most of the cells measured 35--40 micrometer in diameter. There was a striking paucity of cells smaller than 30 micrometer. The predominance of medium-sized spinal ganglion cells may indicate that the stomach is innervated mainly by small myelinated rather than unmyelinated splanchnic afferent fibers.

Animals↗

Somatopetal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the peripheral and central branches of dorsal root ganglion cells.

The axonal transport of HRP in both the peripheral and central branches of dorsal root ganglion cells was studied in rats. For studying axonal transport in the peripheral branch HRP as a dry substance was applied to the peroneal nerve injured either by teasing, by cutting or crushing. After a short survival time (22 h) mainly small spinal ganglion cells of the corresponding segments were labelled, while after a prolonged survival time (70 h) mainly large cells were labelled. These labelling differences are referred to different transport rates or to differences in the process of accumulation of HRP in neurons of various sizes. No evidence could be found for HRP transport from the peripheral into the central branch. Injection of HRP into the spinal cord (survival time 22 h) or into the dorsal column nuclei (survival time 46 h) was followed by labelling of numerous spinal ganglion cell perikarya of all sizes. Reaction product was found also within the prebifurcation segment of spinal ganglion cell processes. On the basis of light microscopic exploration only somatopetal transport could be detected.

Animals↗

Internal structure of cat extraocular muscle.

Teasing preparations of cat extraocular muscles (EOM) were used to study the arrangement of muscle fibers and the distribution of the different cholinesterase-positive sites, i.e. (1) large motor endplates, (2) small motor endings of the 'en grappe' type, (3) myotendinous junctions and (4) myomyous junctions. The distribution of these cholinesterase-positive structures gives clear evidence of a complex muscle architecture of cat EOM. In the global layer of cat EOM, only multiply innervated muscle fibers run the whole length of the muscle. The focally innervated muscle fibers are generally shorter; they are usually arranged in series of two to three fibers being interconnected by myomyous junctions. Moreover, muscle fiber splitting is frequently present resulting in a netlike arrangement of muscle fibers. Most of the myomyous junctions occur between focally innervated muscle fibers, but also end-to-side connections of focally to multiply innervated muscle fibers are observed; multiply innervated muscle fi0ers have not been found connected to each other. In this layer, large motor endplates are distributed in several bands between origin and insertion. In the orbital layer all muscle fibers run from tendon to tendon, focally as well as multiply innervated ones. Here, large motor endplates are confined to a band in the middle of the muscle, and myomyous junctions are generally absent. Some functional implications of this complex architecture of cat EOM are discussed.

Animals↗