CALRETININ-IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN VAGAL AND GLOSSOPHARYNGEAL SENSORY NEURONS OF THE RAT - DISTRIBUTION AND COEXISTENCE WITH PUTATIVE TRANSMITTER AGENTS

Immunoreactivity for the calcium binding protein, calretinin (calretinin-ir), was demonstrated in cell bodies of vagal and glossopharyngeal sensory ganglia (jugular, petrosal, and nodose ganglia) and in associated nerve fibers. In the jugular and petrosal ganglia, many calretinin-ir neurons were also immunoreactive for calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P. In the nodose ganglion, most of the calretinin-ir neurons lacked these peptides. None of the calretinin-ir neurons in these ganglia were also immunoreactive for tyrosine hydroxylase.