Nodose ganglion

Histologic evidence shows a close anatomic correspondence between mast cells and G-fibers in peripheral organs (Skofitsch et al., 1985 Stead et al., 1987) and in the nodose ganglia (Undem and Weinrich, 1993). There is both functional and structural evidence for innervation of mast cells by C-fibers. Stimulation of the trigeminal nerve causes mast cells in the rat dura mater to degranu-late. This effect, which is apparent on histologic evaluation, is abolished by treatment with neonatal capsaicin and this may be mediated by C-fibers (Dimitriadou etal., 1991). 

In contrast to NGF, BDNF is able to support the survival of sensory neurons of neural placode origin. These neurons, which include those of the nodose ganglia, are unresponsive to NGF but show cell survival and neurite outgrowth in re-... 

Murphy et al. (1991) were the first to report that CDF/LIF exerts neurotrophic effects in developing sensory neurons (DRG). CDF/LIF also exerts neurotrophic effects on spinal motoneurons and nodose ganglia neurons (Martinou et al., 1992 Henderson et al., 1993 Thaler et al, 1994). Furthermore, both CNTF and CDF/LIF stimulate survival of spinal motoneurons in vivo... 

The activities of the GI tract are controlled locally through a restricted part of the peripheral nervous system called the enteric nervous system (ENS). The ENS is involved in sensorimotor control and consists of both afferent sensory neurons and a number of motor nerves and intemeurons that are organized principally into two nerve plexuses the myenteric (Auerbach s) plexus and the submucosal (Meissner s) plexus. The myenteric plexus, located between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers, plays an important role in the contraction and relaxation of GI smooth muscle. The submucosal plexus is involved with secretory and absorptive functions of the GI epithelium, local blood flow, and neuroimmune activities. The ENS consists of components of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS and has sensory nerve connections through the spinal and nodose ganglia ("see Chapter 37). 

Fig. 4 Selective activation of pulmonary C-flbers arising from the nodose ganglia with either adenosine or 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (a 5-HT3 receptor selective agonist) markedly inhibits citric acid induced coughing in anesthetized guinea pigs, while intrapulmonary RAR activation by histamine is without effect. Citric acid (0.001-2 M) was applied topically to the tracheal mucosa in 100 — pL ahquots at 1-min intervals and in ascending concentrations. Each bar represents the mean SEM cumulative number of coughs evoked by citric acid in five to six experiments...

Gual A, Eugenin J, Alcayaga J, Stensaas LJ, Eyzaguirre C. The chick chorioallantoic membrane promotes survival of co-transplanted rat carotid bodies and nodose ganglia. Brain Res 1991 556 139-144. 

Higashi H, Nishi S. 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptors on visceral primary afferent neurones of rabbit nodose ganglia. J Physiol 1982 323 543—567. 

The responses of PG neurons to natural stimuli have not been investigated extensively. Thus, although an important part of the ganglionar population corresponds to mechanoreceptors, little is known about their responses to mechanical deformation, as in baroreceptors of the nodose ganglia (6) or somatosensory afferents of the dorsal root ganglia (7). On the other hand, the responses of PG neurons to carotid body natural stimuli have been studied mostly in tissue culture, confrasting the responses evoked from neurons in pure ganglia... 

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