Localization of vasoactive intestinal peptide- and peptide histidine isoleucine amide-like immunoreactivities in the rat superior cervical ganglion and its nerve trunks.

Electrical stimulation of the preganglionic cervical sympathetic trunk causes an increase in dopa synthesis in the postganglionic neurons in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG). This transsynaptic biochemical effect can be blocked only partially by cholinergic antagonists, suggesting the involvement of a noncholinergic preganglionic sympathetic neurotransmitter(s). A survey of a large number of possible candidates for this neurotransmitter revealed that, in addition to cholinergic agonists, only a small group of peptides (all members of the secretin-glucagon family) stimulated dopa synthesis in the SCG. The effective peptides included vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptide histidine isoleucine amide (PHI), and secretin. Consequently we looked for the presence of immunoreactivities for these three peptides in the SCG. VIP- and PHI-like immunoreactive fibers were found in the SCG and in its major pre- and postganglionic nerve trunks. The distributions of the two immunoreactivities were very similar. Immunoreactive fibers were seen both singly and in bundles. In some instances, fibers were found apposed to neuronal cell bodies in the ganglion, and occasionally dense plexuses of fibers were found surrounding the neurons. In addition, punctate immunoreactive profiles were found apposed to the neurons in what appeared to be terminal fields. A small number of immunoreactive neuronal cell bodies were also seen in the ganglion. In a few instances, it was possible to establish, in serial sections, that the same cell body was immunostained with both VIP and PHI antisera. No secretin like-immunoreactive fibers or cells were observed. The presence of VIP-like and PHI-like-immunoreactive fibers in the cervical sympathetic trunk and in the SCG strengthens the possibility that these peptides, or a related molecule(s), serve as preganglionic neurotransmitters in this ganglion.