Co-localisation of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the myenteric plexus of the porcine transverse colon

Abstract

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART) is a substance,which can play the role of neuromediator and/or neuromodulator in nerve structures within the gastrointestinal tract. However knowledge concerning its functions and co-localisation with other neuronal factors is rather scarce. During the present investigation the co-localisation of CART and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the neurons of meyenteric plexus within the porcine transverse colon was studied using double immunofluorescence technique and semiquantitative arbitrary scale of the frequency of presence CART+/VIP+, CART+/VIP– and CART–/VIP+ neuronal cells. The most often (+++) CART–/VIP+ neurons were encountered, neurons simultaneously immunoreactive to CART and VIP were observed somewhat rarer (++) and only single (+) CART+/VIP– perikarya were visible. The present study reports for the first time on the co-localisation of CART and VIP in myenteric neurons of the porcine transverse colon.