Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Characterisation of CART-containing neurons and cells in the porcine pancreas, gastro-intestinal tract, adrenal and thyroid glands.

Wierup, Nils LU ; Gunnarsdottir, Anna LU ; Ekblad, Eva LU and Sundler, Frank (2007) In BMC Neuroscience 8(51).
Abstract
Background: The peptide CART is widely expressed in central and peripheral neurons, as well as

in endocrine cells. Known peripheral sites of expression include the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the

pancreas, and the adrenal glands. In rodent pancreas CART is expressed both in islet endocrine

cells and in nerve fibers, some of which innervate the islets. Recent data show that CART is a

regulator of islet hormone secretion, and that CART null mutant mice have islet dysfunction. CART

also effects GI motility, mainly via central routes. In addition, CART participates in the regulation

of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis. We investigated CART expression in porcine pancreas,

... (More)
Background: The peptide CART is widely expressed in central and peripheral neurons, as well as

in endocrine cells. Known peripheral sites of expression include the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the

pancreas, and the adrenal glands. In rodent pancreas CART is expressed both in islet endocrine

cells and in nerve fibers, some of which innervate the islets. Recent data show that CART is a

regulator of islet hormone secretion, and that CART null mutant mice have islet dysfunction. CART

also effects GI motility, mainly via central routes. In addition, CART participates in the regulation

of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis. We investigated CART expression in porcine pancreas,

GI-tract, adrenal glands, and thyroid gland using immunocytochemistry.

Results: CART immunoreactive (IR) nerve cell bodies and fibers were numerous in pancreatic and

enteric ganglia. The majority of these were also VIP IR. The finding of intrinsic CART containing

neurons indicates that pancreatic and GI CART IR nerve fibers have an intrinsic origin. No CART

IR endocrine cells were detected in the pancreas or in the GI tract. The adrenal medulla harboured

numerous CART IR endocrine cells, most of which were adrenaline producing. In addition CART

IR fibers were frequently seen in the adrenal cortex and capsule. The capsule also contained CART

IR nerve cell bodies. The majority of the adrenal CART IR neuronal elements were also VIP IR.

CART IR was also seen in a substantial proportion of the C-cells in the thyroid gland. The majority

of these cells were also somatostatin IR, and/or 5-HT IR, and/or VIP IR.

Conclusion: CART is a major neuropeptide in intrinsic neurons of the porcine GI-tract and

pancreas, a major constituent of adrenaline producing adrenomedullary cells, and a novel peptide

of the thyroid C-cells. CART is suggested to be a regulatory peptide in the porcine pancreas, GItract,

adrenal gland and thyroid. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
BMC Neuroscience
volume
8
issue
51
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • wos:000248474700001
  • scopus:34547675921
ISSN
1471-2202
DOI
10.1186/1471-2202-8-51
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c423fb35-a325-485a-be89-b91ebc6b08ee (old id 540832)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:51:16
date last changed
2022-02-20 01:35:31
@article{c423fb35-a325-485a-be89-b91ebc6b08ee,
  abstract     = {{Background: The peptide CART is widely expressed in central and peripheral neurons, as well as<br/><br>
in endocrine cells. Known peripheral sites of expression include the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the<br/><br>
pancreas, and the adrenal glands. In rodent pancreas CART is expressed both in islet endocrine<br/><br>
cells and in nerve fibers, some of which innervate the islets. Recent data show that CART is a<br/><br>
regulator of islet hormone secretion, and that CART null mutant mice have islet dysfunction. CART<br/><br>
also effects GI motility, mainly via central routes. In addition, CART participates in the regulation<br/><br>
of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis. We investigated CART expression in porcine pancreas,<br/><br>
GI-tract, adrenal glands, and thyroid gland using immunocytochemistry.<br/><br>
Results: CART immunoreactive (IR) nerve cell bodies and fibers were numerous in pancreatic and<br/><br>
enteric ganglia. The majority of these were also VIP IR. The finding of intrinsic CART containing<br/><br>
neurons indicates that pancreatic and GI CART IR nerve fibers have an intrinsic origin. No CART<br/><br>
IR endocrine cells were detected in the pancreas or in the GI tract. The adrenal medulla harboured<br/><br>
numerous CART IR endocrine cells, most of which were adrenaline producing. In addition CART<br/><br>
IR fibers were frequently seen in the adrenal cortex and capsule. The capsule also contained CART<br/><br>
IR nerve cell bodies. The majority of the adrenal CART IR neuronal elements were also VIP IR.<br/><br>
CART IR was also seen in a substantial proportion of the C-cells in the thyroid gland. The majority<br/><br>
of these cells were also somatostatin IR, and/or 5-HT IR, and/or VIP IR.<br/><br>
Conclusion: CART is a major neuropeptide in intrinsic neurons of the porcine GI-tract and<br/><br>
pancreas, a major constituent of adrenaline producing adrenomedullary cells, and a novel peptide<br/><br>
of the thyroid C-cells. CART is suggested to be a regulatory peptide in the porcine pancreas, GItract,<br/><br>
adrenal gland and thyroid.}},
  author       = {{Wierup, Nils and Gunnarsdottir, Anna and Ekblad, Eva and Sundler, Frank}},
  issn         = {{1471-2202}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{51}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Neuroscience}},
  title        = {{Characterisation of CART-containing neurons and cells in the porcine pancreas, gastro-intestinal tract, adrenal and thyroid glands.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4492861/626068.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/1471-2202-8-51}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}