Occurrence of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in some peripheral sympathetic noradrenergic neurons

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Abstract
By means of the indirect immunofluorescence technique of Coons and collaborators, somatostatin-like immunoreactivity was demonstrated in principal ganglion cells of some [rat and guinea pig] sympathetic ganglia. The noradrenergic nature of these cells was established by staining of the same or consecutive sections with antiserum to dopamine .beta.-hydroxylase [dopamine .beta.-monooxygenase; 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine, ascorbate:oxygen oxidoreductase (.beta.-hydroxylating), EC 1.14.17.1], the enzyme converting dopamine to noradrenaline (norepinephrine). In guinea pigs the somatostatin immunoreactive material was found in almost two-thirds of all principal ganglion cells of the coeliac-superior mesenteric ganglion complex (anterior inferior part) and of the inferior mesenteric ganglion, but only a few cells of the superior cervical ganglion. It appeared to be localized close to the Golgi complex. The present findings may represent a concomitant storage of a biogenic amine and a small peptide in a neuron. Because both noradrenaline and somatostatin may fulfill a role as a neurotransmitter or modulator, the sympathetic neurons described in this study may represent an example of mammalian nerve cells not conforming to Dale''s hypothesis, i.e., the one neuron-one transmitter concept.