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Distinct subpopulations of enteric p-type neurones contain substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide

Nature volume 294, pages 470–471 (1981)Cite this article

Abstract

Enteric nerve profiles ultrastructurally distinct from the adrenergic and cholinergic types have been recognized for more than a decade1. Baumgarten and his colleagues2 called these neurones p-type (peptidergic) because they contain large, granular, secretory vesicles similar to those found in peptide-containing nerves in the brain. Subsequently ultrastructural heterogeneity within this extensive non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic p-type system was described, based on the appearance of these granular vesicles3. This was consistent with the light microscopical demonstration of increasing numbers of peptides in the gut innervation4,5, and has been further supported by the localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactivity within large p-type secretory vesicles in the cat proximal colon6. Using electron-immunocytochemical techniques on aldehyde-fixed tissue we have shown that the morphological heterogeneity of the p-type system is partly due to the storage of different peptides. We present here evidence that two peptides, VIP and substance P (SP), are present in separate subpopulations of p-type neurones distinguishable by the size and appearance of their granular secretory vesicles. Further subpopulations, unlabelled by specific anti-SP and anti-VIP sera, are also present.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Histochemistry, Department of Histopathology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W12 0HS, UK

    L. Probert & J. M. Polak

  2. Laboratory of Oncology, Janssen Pharmaceutica, 2340, Beerse, Belgium

    J. De Mey

Authors
  1. L. Probert
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  2. J. De Mey
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  3. J. M. Polak
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Probert, L., Mey, J. & Polak, J. Distinct subpopulations of enteric p-type neurones contain substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. Nature 294, 470–471 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/294470a0

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