Expression of substance P and nitric oxide synthase in vagal sensory neurons innervating the mouse airways
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Updated: Aug 20, 2026
A Method to Target and Isolate Airway-innervating Sensory Neurons in Mice
Published on: April 19, 2016
Q Thai Dinh1, David A Groneberg, Christian Peiser
1Department of Internal Medicine, Charité School of Medicine, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. q-thai.dinh@charite.de
Introduction:
Airway sensory nerves have the capacity to release neuromediators such as substance P and nitric oxide to control airway functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate substance P and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS-1) expression in airway-specific sensory neurons.
Methods:
Airway-projecting neurons in the jugular-nodose ganglia were investigated for NOS-1 and substance P expression by neuronal tracing and double-labelling immunoreactivity.
Results:
Of the Fast blue labelled neurons, 14.6+/-1.8% (mean+/-S.E.M.) were immunoreactive only for NOS-1, 3.0+/-0.3% for NOS-1 and substance P, 2.7+/-0.3% only for substance P, and 79.7+/-1.7% of the labelled neurons were nonimmunoreactive for substance P or NOS-1 but were partly positive for I-B4-lectin-binding. Fast blue labelled NOS and/or substance P-positive neurons were small to medium sized (<20 microm).
Conclusion:
Based on the expression of substance P and nitric oxide synthase in airway neurons, the present study suggests that there may be substance P and NO biosynthesis and release following a peripheral activation of the afferents, there could be a triggering of substance P and NO-mediated phenomena, including those related to airway inflammation, such as plasma extravasation and vasodilatation.
