M Weichselbaum, AW Everett and MP Sparrow
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.

The extent of the innervation in the adventitial surface of the airway wall is demonstrated by mapping all the nerves and ganglia of the first trimester fetal and postnatal (4-wk-old) pig lung. We used antibodies to two pan-neuronal nerve markers-Protein Gene Product (PGP) 9.5, a nonspecific marker for all nerves, and synaptic vesicle protein 2 (SV2), a marker of synaptic vesicle membranes-to obtain detailed maps of the innervation of the airways. The airway smooth muscle has been stained concurrently with an antibody to alpha-actin. To obtain an overview of the passage of nerves down the bronchial tree, whole mounts of the bronchial tree have been imaged using confocal microscopy. Several conclusions can be drawn from our work: (1) Nerves branch from the main nerve trunks to form an extensive plexus covering the surface of the smooth muscle in fetal pigs but penetrate through the smooth muscle and are more organized in postnatal airways. In general, two main nerve trunks per airway were observed. (2) The antibody to PGP 9.5 in the fetal lung revealed in many ganglia and nerve trunks, the latter exhibiting cell profiles. In the postnatal lung, cell bodies were restricted to ganglia in the central airways. (3) The antibody to SV2, in general, showed varicose staining of the fine nerve fibers at both ages.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Z. Veres, S. Rochlitzer, M. Shevchenko, B. Fuchs, F. Prenzler, C. Nassenstein, A. Fischer, L. Welker, O. Holz, M. Muller, et al. Spatial Interactions between Dendritic Cells and Sensory Nerves in Allergic Airway Inflammation Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., November 1, 2007; 37(5): 553 - 561. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. J. Proskocil, H. S. Sekhon, Y. Jia, V. Savchenko, R. D. Blakely, J. Lindstrom, and E. R. Spindel Acetylcholine Is an Autocrine or Paracrine Hormone Synthesized and Secreted by Airway Bronchial Epithelial Cells Endocrinology, May 1, 2004; 145(5): 2498 - 2506. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Pan, H. Yeger, and E. Cutz Innervation of Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cells and Neuroepithelial Bodies in Developing Rabbit Lung J. Histochem. Cytochem., March 1, 2004; 52(3): 379 - 390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. D. Larson, E. S. Schelegle, D. M. Hyde, and C. G. Plopper The Three-Dimensional Distribution of Nerves Along the Entire Intrapulmonary Airway Tree of the Adult Rat and the Anatomical Relationship Between Nerves and Neuroepithelial Bodies Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., May 1, 2003; 28(5): 592 - 599. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Smiley-Jewell, M. U. Tran, A. J. Weir, Z. A. Johnson, L. S. Van Winkle, and C. G. Plopper Three-dimensional mapping of smooth muscle in the distal conducting airways of mouse, rabbit, and monkey J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2002; 93(4): 1506 - 1514. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Perez Fontan and C. R. Velloff Labeling of vagal motoneurons and central afferents after injection of cholera toxin B into the airway lumen Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, January 1, 2001; 280(1): L152 - L164. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Schittny, G. Miserocchi, and M. P. Sparrow Spontaneous Peristaltic Airway Contractions Propel Lung Liquid through the Bronchial Tree of Intact and Fetal Lung Explants Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., July 1, 2000; 23(1): 11 - 18. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Weichselbaum and M. P. Sparrow A Confocal Microscopic Study of the Formation of Ganglia in the Airways of Fetal Pig Lung Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., November 1, 1999; 21(5): 607 - 620. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. P. Sparrow, M. Weichselbaum, and P. B. McCray Jr. Development of the Innervation and Airway Smooth Muscle in Human Fetal Lung Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., April 1, 1999; 20(4): 550 - 560. [Abstract] [Full Text]