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Peripheral choline acetyltransferase in rat skin demonstrated by immunohistochemistry

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Abstract

Conventional choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry has been used widely for visualizing central cholinergic neurons and fibers but not often for labeling peripheral structures, probably because of their poor staining. The recent identification of the peripheral type of choline acetyltransferase (pChAT) has enabled the clear immunohistochemical detection of many known peripheral cholinergic elements. Here, we report the presence of pChAT-immunoreactive nerve fibers in rat skin. Intensely stained nerve fibers were distributed in association with eccrine sweat glands, blood vessels, hair follicles and portions just beneath the epidermis. These results suggest that pChAT-positive nerves participate in the sympathetic cholinergic innervation of eccrine sweat glands. Moreover, pChAT also appears to play a role in cutaneous sensory nerve endings. These findings are supported by the presence of many pChAT-positive neuronal cells in the sympathetic ganglion and dorsal root ganglion. Thus, pChAT immunohistochemistry should provide a novel and unique tool for studying cholinergic nerves in the skin.

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Abbreviations

ACh:

Acetylcholine

AChE:

Acetylcholinesterase

cChAT:

Common type of ChAT

ChAT:

Choline acetyltransferase

DRG:

Dorsal root ganglion

DRGX:

Dorsal root ganglionectomy

PBST:

Phosphate-buffered saline containing Triton X-100

pChAT:

Peripheral type of choline acetyltransferase

SG:

Sympathetic ganglion

SGX:

Sympathetic ganglionectomy

SP:

Substance P

TH:

Tyrosine hydroxylase

VAChT:

Vesicular acetylcholine transporter

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Acknowledgments

We thank Drs. Ikuo Tooyama and Norito Katoh for their help in carrying out the study. We also thank Drs. Yoshinari Aimi, Osamu Yasuhara and all members of the MNRC for their valuable suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan

    Keiji Hanada & Saburo Kishimoto

  2. Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan

    Jean-Pierre Bellier & Hiroshi Kimura

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  1. Keiji Hanada
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  2. Saburo Kishimoto
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  3. Jean-Pierre Bellier
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  4. Hiroshi Kimura
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Correspondence to Keiji Hanada.

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This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) 17790775 from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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Hanada, K., Kishimoto, S., Bellier, JP. et al. Peripheral choline acetyltransferase in rat skin demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. Cell Tissue Res 351, 497–510 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-012-1536-z

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