Studies of the Dynamics of Transmitter Contents in Neurons in the Sympathetic Ganglia in Cats in Early Ontogeny

Abstract

Objectives. To determine the location and immunohistochemical characteristics of neurons in the superior cervical (SCG) and stellate (CG) ganglia of the sympathetic part of the peripheral nervous system in cats. Materials and methods. Studies were carried out on cats aged 1, 10, 20, and 30 days using retrograde axonal transport of fast blue (FB) given into the muscles of the neck, along with immunohistochemical methods. Results. FB-labeled neurons were detected in both of the sympathetic ganglia studied in kittens from birth. Most of these neurons were immunoreactive (IR) for tyrosine hydroxylase in all age groups. The proportion of labeled neurons simultaneously reacting to antibody to TH and neuropeptide Y in both ganglia increased in the first 10 days of life. The percentage content of calbindin-IR neurons in the SCG decreased from birth to day 30 of life while the number in the CG increased in the first 10 days and then decreased by day 30. Reactions for antibody to choline acetyltransferase, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and neuronal nitric oxide synthase were seen in fewer than 1% of labeled neurons in kittens of all age groups. Somatostatin-IR-labeled neurons were not seen in the SCG. Conclusions. The composition of neurons in the sympathetic ganglia completed ontogenetic rearrangement in kittens by day 20 of life.