Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 3
NOS Immunoreactivity in the Reticular Groove
of Lamb
M. Mazzoni, G. Petrosino, P. Clavenzani, F. Piccinno, V. Grasso, M. Serra,
F. Rambaldi, and G. Lalatta-Costerbosa
Abstract Evidence suggests that the reticular groove (RG) may have an important
role as the coordination center of reticulo-ruminal motility. The aim of this study
was to investigate the presence and distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)
neurons and their phenotype in the RG of suckling lamb. Using double immunohis-
tochemistry, many NOS neurons were found along the entire length of the RG and
were more abundant in the floor than in the lips. They showed irregular profiles and
often colocalized with galanin and dopamine
-hydroxylase but rarely with sub-
stance P and tyrosine hydroxylase. We never observed NOS neurons expressing
neuropeptides normally found in intrinsic primary sensory neurons, such as calci-
tonin gene-related peptide, calbindin, IB4, and neurofilament 200 kDa. When
compared to other districts, the enteric plexuses of the RG showed some peculiar
aspects, such as the lack of both neurons in the submucosal plexus and typical
sensory neurons.
b
Keywords Immunohistochemistry • Lamb • Nitric oxide synthase • Reticular
groove
M. Mazzoni (
*
) • P. Clavenzani • F. Piccinno • F. Rambaldi • G. Lalatta-Costerbosa
DIMORFIPA, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
e-mail:
m.mazzoni@unibo.it
G. Petrosino
Department of Animal, Plant and Environmental Science, University of Molise, Campobasso,
Italy
V. Grasso • M. Serra
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bologna, Bolgna, Italy
