An immunohistochemical study of methionine-enkephalin-Arg 6-Gly 7-Leu 8-like immunoreactivity-containing liquor-contacting neurons (LCNs) in the rat spinal cord

Abstract

The localization of methionine-enkephalin-Arg 6-Gly 7-Leu 8 (Met-Enk-Arg-Gly-Leu)-like immunoreactivity in the medullospinal liquor-contacting neurons (LCNs) of the rat was immunohistochemically investigated using a modified Sternberger's PAP method. In this study, we also examined the distribution of Met-Enk-Arg-Gly-Leu-like immunoreactive LCNs in the entire length of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord. The immunoreactive LCN possessed an oval, polygonal or rod-shaped perikaryon which proturbed an axon-like process and a CSF-contacting process. In the entire length of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord, 60–70 immunoreactive LCNs were observed. They were sparsely distributed along the central canal. The ratio of the number of immunoreactive LCNs in each segment/total number of immunoreactive LCNs in the medulla oblongata and whole spinal cord was as follows: medulla oblongata, 0%; cervical segments, 28.1%; thoracic segments, 56.8%; lumbar segments, 12.0%; sacral segments, 3.0%; and coccygeal segments, 0%. When the immunoreactivity of perikarya of LCNs was weak, a few nerve terminals with a strong Met-Enk-Arg-Gly-Leu-like immunoreactivity were noticed on them. These findings suggest that preproenkephalin A-related opioid peptides including Met-Fnk-Arg-Gly-Leu may be secreted into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through the terminal portions of axon-like processes and/or CSF-contacting processes of LCNs. Enkephalin-containing nerve terminals on the LCNs may represent modulating afferents aiding the receptive and/or secretory functions of the neurons.