Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P20366 (substance P)
 21,176 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and senile dementia (SD) are often classified together, but there are genetic, biochemical, neuropathological and clinical arguments for separating them. The well-known Alzheimer lesions in the brains of patients with AD and SD are described, as is the loss of neurons in the locus coeruleus. White matter changes in brains from patients with dementia are discussed and related to AD and SD. Biochemical changes in brains of patients with AD and SD include reduced activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline-acetyltransferase (CAT), indicating reduced activity in the acetylcholinergic system. There is also, however, reduced activity in the dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) system. The active amines are decreased while the end metabolites are decreased to a lesser extent or normal. The levels of the active amines are thought to reflect the number of neurons, while the levels of end metabolites reflect the rate of turnover in the system. 3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) is increased to levels above normal, which may indicate an increased rate of turnover in the NA system. Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), which is increased in advanced age, is further increased in patients with AD and SD. It is assumed that this enzyme is localized in extraneuronal tissue, and therefore the increase may reflect a gliosis. In brains from patients with AD and SD neuropeptides are also studied. Only somatostatin and substance P, however, seem to be reduced, indicating selective damage to the neuropeptides. The biochemical changes can be given pathogenetic importance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia: biochemical characteristics and aspects of treatment. 286 36

The paracervical ganglia of the female rat were studied to elucidate the variety of neural elements in the ganglia. Light and electron microscopy, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry were employed to reveal subtypes of neurons; small, intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells; and nerve terminals and to examine the relationships between these elements. On the basis of their histochemical markers, four subtypes of principal neurons were identified: acetylcholinesterase (ACHE)-positive, noradrenergic, neuropeptide tyrosine-immunoreactive (NPY-I), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immunoreactive (VIP-I). The NPY-I neurons appeared to be the most numerous and the noradrenergic the least common type of neuron. Four subtypes of chemically coded SIF cells were revealed: catecholamine-containing, NPY-I, and those immunoreactive for calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP-I) and cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8-I). The SIF cells were present as single cells among and adjacent to principal neurons and as large clusters near the edges of the ganglia or in nearby nerve trunks. Synaptic contacts on SIF cells, or between SIF-cell processes and neurons, were not observed. Seven subtypes of nerve terminals were stained: ACHE-positive, CGRP-I, CCK-8-I, VIP-I, substance P-I, enkephalin-I, and atrial natriuretic factor-I. Nerve terminals enwrapped the neurons as perineuronal plexuses in synaptic-like relationships. These results demonstrate that the paracervical ganglia of the female rat are a complex system of neural elements. For example, several classes of chemically coded neurons, SIF cells, and terminals exist in the ganglia. Each of these components contains a number of substances, some of which are putative neurotransmitters, which could influence activity in the ganglia or in the effector organs innervated by the ganglia.
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PMID:Paracervical ganglia of the female rat: histochemistry and immunohistochemistry of neurons, SIF cells, and nerve terminals. 288 3

The laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (ntdl) contains a cluster of cells located just medial to the locus coeruleus in the pontine brainstem. The ntdl has been shown to project both rostrally to the forebrain and diencephalon and caudally to the spinal cord. In an effort to characterize this region neurochemically, the present study was conducted to identify a variety of neurochemicals localized within perikarya and fibers of the ntdl and surrounding nuclei. Rats were perfused with formalin, and brain sections were processed for fluorescence immunocytochemistry and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Of the neurochemicals screened, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), cholecystokinin (CCK), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), dynorphin B (Dyn B), galanin, somatostatin, substance P, neurotensin (NT), neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasopressin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), serotonin (5HT), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were studied. AChE and ChAT staining revealed that the ntdl contains mostly cholinergic neurons. In addition, brightly reactive substance P and galanin and paler staining CRF, ANF, CGRP, NT, VIP, and Dyn B cell bodies were found within the ntdl. Varicose fibers in this nucleus also contained these peptides in addition to CCK, GAD, TH, 5HT, and NPY. The dorsal tegmental nucleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, locus coeruleus, and the parabrachial region contained a dense and varied assortment of peptides with distinct positions and patterns. This multiplicity of neurochemicals within this area suggests a possible influence on a variety of functions modulated by the ntdl and other closely associated tegmental nuclei.
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PMID:Immunocytochemical localization of peptides and other neurochemicals in the rat laterodorsal tegmental nucleus and adjacent area. 289 81

The detrusor muscle, bladder neck, proximal, middle and distal regions of the urethra of the female pig were studied by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods to localize catecholamine-containing, acetylcholinesterase-positive and peptide-containing nerves. The peptides examined included: vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, substance P, somatostatin, [Met]enkephalin, bombesin and gastrin. The greatest density of nerves was found in the smooth muscle of the distal urethra, followed by the bladder neck, middle urethra, and proximal urethra, with the least in the detrusor muscle. The greatest number of nerve fibres stained for acetylcholinesterase, followed by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide- and catecholamine-containing fibres. Substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibres were confined to the bladder neck and distal urethral regions. [Met]enkephalin-and gastrin-immunoreactive nerves were most dense in the distal urethra but absent in detrusor muscle, while somatostatin-immunoreactive nerve fibres were sparsely distributed throughout the lower urinary tract. No nerve fibres showing immunoreactivity to bombesin were found. Catecholamine-containing, acetylcholinesterase-positive, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, substance P-, [Met]enkephalin- and gastrin-immunoreactive nerves were also found on the adventitial-medial border of blood vessels in the pig urinary tract. In the intrinsic external urethral sphincter, located in the distal urethra, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide- and gastrin-immunoreactive nerve fibres were found bordering a small number of individual striated muscle fibres, while catecholamine-containing nerves were found predominantly in the connective tissue surrounding the striated muscle fibres. Dense populations of acetylcholinesterase-positive nerve fibres were found associated with the striated muscle fibres, with end plates on some of them. Intramural ganglia, composed of two to 30 neurones, were found in the bladder neck and middle and distal regions of the urethra. In the smooth muscle, and in the vicinity of the striated muscle regions of the intrinsic external urethral sphincter, there were small ganglia, containing two to three neurones, which were vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, [Met]enkephalin- and somatostatin-immunoreactive. The results are compared to the autonomic innervation of the human bladder and urethra as previously described and it is concluded that the lower urinary tract of the pig is a good model for some features of the lower urinary tract of man, but a poor model for others.
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PMID:A histochemical and immunohistochemical study of the autonomic innervation of the lower urinary tract of the female pig. Is the pig a good model for the human bladder and urethra? 291 69

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".
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PMID:The distribution of anterogradely labeled I--IV primary afferents in histochemically defined compartments of the rat's sternomastoid muscle. 335 41

Three patients suffering from an absence of the enteric nervous system are reported. Two sisters presented with severe vomiting shortly after birth and dilatation of the intestine proximal to a stenosis. There was an absence of the enteric nervous system throughout the entire length of the intestine distal to the duodenum. A boy presenting an ileus was found to suffer from an aganglionosis of the entire colon. There was also an absence of neuronal bodies and nerve fibers in the small intestine. The final diagnosis was made by histochemical and immunocytochemical stains for acetylcholinesterase, lactate hydrogenase, neuron-specific enolase, protein S-100, and substance P. In the literature, 13 other patients have been reported. On the basis of differences of symptoms, incidence, sex ratio, genetics, and, presumably, pathogenesis between absence of the enteric nervous system and aganglionosis, it is assumed that the two diseases are separate entities.
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PMID:Absence of the enteric nervous system in the newborn: presentation of three patients and review of the literature. 351 82

We have previously used organotypic cultures to study mechanisms regulating phenotypic expression of neurotransmitter characters in the brain. Our previous work indicated that nerve growth factor (NGF) specifically increased the activity of choline acetyltransferase (CAT) in striatal cholinergic interneurons. In the present study we examined the effect of NGF on neurons of fetal rat basal forebrain-medial septal area (BF-MS) maintained in organotypic culture. Treatment with 200 biological units/ml of NGF resulted in a 3- to 6-fold increase in the specific activity of CAT. This effect was specifically blocked by anti-NGF antiserum, whereas treatment with antiserum alone did not alter the cholinergic enzyme. NGF also elicited a marked increase in CAT staining intensity, using a monoclonal antibody directed against the enzyme. Further, the number of CAT-positive neurons appeared to increase in the NGF-treated cultures. Exposure to NGF also increased the activity of another cholinergic marker, the catabolic enzyme, acetylcholinesterase. The effect of NGF appeared to be highly selective, since substance P and somatostatin levels were unchanged by NGF treatment.
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PMID:Nerve growth factor selectively increases cholinergic markers but not neuropeptides in rat basal forebrain in culture. 360 70

Specific acetylcholinesterase and non-specific cholinesterases are present in all three lobes of the rat pituitary gland. This paper describes two new observations on hypophyseal acetylcholinesterase. Firstly, a prolonged increase of neurohormone secretion evoked by dehydration and sodium loading was accompanied by a decrease in the acetylcholinesterase activity localized to the neural lobe, where acetylcholinesterase has previously been demonstrated in fine nerve fibres. Secondly, electrical stimulation of the pituitary stalk in vitro elicited the release of acetylcholinesterase and non-specific cholinesterases from the combined neural and intermediate lobe indicating that the enzyme can be released from nerve endings in the hypophysis by action potentials. The observed loss of enzyme activity during dehydration may be the consequence of a prolonged activation of cholinergic nerves in the gland, leading to an increased release of acetylcholinesterase, which is not immediately replaced by fresh enzyme. The decrease in acetylcholinesterase in the neural lobe during dehydration may also be connected with its peptidase function and thus with the previously observed loss of substance P from the neural lobe during dehydration [Holzbauer et al. (1984) Neurosci. Lett. 47, 23-28].
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PMID:Acetylcholinesterase in the rat neurohypophysis is decreased after dehydration and released by stimulation of the pituitary stalk. 361 40

The distribution of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been examined in two areas of the hippocampal region of the adult rabbit, viz., the subiculum and the hippocampus. AChE was demonstrated histochemically by using a modification of the Koelle copper thiocholine method. Moderate amounts of AChE were observed in the subiculum, whereas the hippocampus had a high content of this enzyme. In each area, the AChE staining displayed a distinctly stratified pattern which has been compared in detail with the fields and layers defined on the basis of cyto- and fibro-architectonics. Most of the enzyme activity was confined to the neuropil, but a considerable number of nerve cell bodies were moderately or intensely stained in both the subiculum and the hippocampus. In the subiculum, the plexiform layer showed a complex distribution of AChE, displaying four horizontal, differently stained subzones. In the cell layer, the staining was most intense in two narrow bands, one being immediately beneath the plexiform layer and the other bordering directly on the white matter. The remaining major part of the subicular cell layer generally had a low AChE content. In regio superior of the hippocampus, intense staining was observed in the deep part of the molecular layer, in a narrow suprapyramidal zone of the stratum radiatum, and in the stratum oriens. In regio inferior, very high AChE activity was present in the molecular layer, in two narrow bands bordering the mossy fiber layer superficially and at depth, and in the stratum oriens. The pyramidal cell bodies and the mossy fibers were unstained. The distribution of AChE in the rabbit was compared with that in the rat and guinea pig; the latter two have been reported. The staining patterns of all three species share many conspicuous histochemical features, though notable species-specific traits do exist. Detailed consideration is given to possible structural correlates of the AChE observed in the two areas, in particular the relation to fiber systems known from either normal material or experimental investigations. A considerable portion of the enzyme is probably contained in afferents of septal origin, but it seems very likely that some of the AChE is associated with other fiber systems, the identity of which are unknown at present. A possible role of some of the AChE observed in the hippocampal region in the hydrolysis of substance P and enkephalin is discussed briefly.
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PMID:Distribution of acetylcholinesterase in the hippocampal region of the rabbit: II. Subiculum and hippocampus. 362 49

The authors have studied the changes induced by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in the density and distribution of cerebral perivascular nerves in monkeys and rats. The SAH was induced in monkeys by placement of an autologous blood clot after opening the basal cisterns over the arteries of the circle of Willis on one side. In the rat study, SAH was induced by injection of autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna. The nerves examined were adrenergic nerves, acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-containing nerves, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-like immunoreactive nerves, and substance P-like immunoreactive nerves. In the monkey study, all animals underwent baseline cerebral angiography, then had repeat angiography just before sacrifice on Day 2, 7, 28, or 70 after SAH. Two sham-operated monkeys underwent the surgical procedure without clot placement and were sacrificed on postoperative Day 7, after repeat angiography. Clot placement in monkeys reduced staining of all middle cerebral artery (MCA) perivascular nerves for between 2 and 28 days post-SAH. The number of stained nerve fibers of MCA's on the non-operated side was slightly reduced on Days 2 and 7 after SAH. Sham-operated monkeys showed a mild reduction of staining in all nerves, but only on the operated side. Cerebral vasospasm was observed on all angiograms taken on Days 2 and 7 following SAH. No vasospasm was found in normal or sham-operated monkeys. The disappearance of nerve staining without associated vasospasm was found on the operated side of the sham-operated monkeys and on the clot side of the animal sacrificed on Day 28 after SAH. Rats sacrificed on Days 2 and 7 post-SAH showed reduction in adrenergic and VIP-like immunoreactive staining around basilar arteries, while nerves containing AChE were not affected. Saline-injected rats exhibited no change in the appearance of perivascular innervation. These results suggest that SAH as well as surgical manipulation of the vessel wall caused a reduction of the studied substances in cerebral perivascular nerves. This reduction in immunoreactive staining of perivascular nerves did not correlate with the development of angiographic vasospasm after SAH.
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PMID:Cerebral perivascular nerves in subarachnoid hemorrhage. A histochemical and immunohistochemical study. 376 Sep 64


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