Vasoactive intestinal and calcitonin gene-related peptides, tyrosine hydroxylase and nitrergic markers in the innervation of the rat central retinal artery.

The vascular supply of the optic nerve has been studied with different methods including corrosion casts both in humans and in other mammals. In man, primates and some other mammals, such as the rat, a distinct central retinal artery accompanies the optic nerve, and runs through the lamina cribosa to reach the optic nerve head. Similarities between human and rat central retinal artery could serve to understand changes in the autonomic perivascular innervation in glaucoma using the rat as an animal model. Nitric oxide, calcitonin gene-related peptide, neuropeptide Y, substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide have been identified around the monkey central retina artery. Innervation of the rat central artery, however, has not been described in detail. Using immuno- and histochemical methods, the present study investigates the peptidergic, adrenergic and nitrergic innervation of the rat posterior ciliary artery as well as the central retina artery. Numerous nitric oxide positive nerve fibers were visualized posterior and anterior to the lamina cribosa of the optic nerve. They colocalized with NADPH-diaphorase positive fibers, which could also be observed in two of six specimens studied at the level of the optic nerve head. Calcitonin gene-related peptide, tyrosine hydroxylase, and VIP positive fibers were also observed surrounding the vessels of the rat optic nerve. The presence of neuronal nitric oxide/NADPH-diaphorase and vasoactive intestinal peptide positive nerve fibers surrounding the posterior ciliary and central retinal arteries indicates a vasodilator effect in the rat optic nerve. Tyrosine hydroxylase positive innervation indicates the presence of sympathetic activity, and calcitonin gene-related peptide positive fibers indicate sensory innervation by trigeminal primary efferents.