Coexistence of S100β and putative transmitter agents in vagal and glossopharyngeal sensory neurons of the rat

The coexistence of S100 beta with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), somatostatin (SOM), nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was examined in the glossopharyngeal and vagal sensory ganglia. S100 beta immunoreactive (-ir) neurons in the jugular and petrosal ganglia frequently colocalized CGRP- or SP-ir, whereas S100 beta-ir neurons in the nodose ganglion infrequently contained CGRP- or SP-ir. No S100 beta-ir neurons in the jugular and petrosal ganglia showed SOM-ir while the small number of SOM-ir neurons in the nodose ganglion colocalized S100 beta-ir. Many neurons in the nodose ganglion colocalized S100 beta-ir and NADPH-d activity, whereas S100 beta-ir neurons in the jugular and nodose ganglia infrequently contained NADPH-d activity. S100 beta- and TH-ir were frequently colocalized in nodose ganglion but not in petrosal or jugular ganglion neurons. These findings suggest relationships between S100 beta and specific putative transmitters in functions of subpopulations of vagal and glossopharyngeal sensory neurons. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. AU. rights reserved.