SOMATOSTATIN IS PRESENT IN A SUBPOPULATION OF NORADRENERGIC NERVE-FIBERS SUPPLYING THE INTESTINE

Abstract

Somatostatin and dopamine beta-hydroxylase have been localized in the coeliaco-mesenteric ganglia, in mesenteric nerves and in the wall of the guinea-pig small intestine. Nerve lesions were used to determine the sources of the nerves. Nerve cell bodies in the coeliaco-mesenteric ganglia with immunoreactivity for both somatostatin and dopamine beta-hydroxylase project to the intestine via the mesenteric nerves. Most of their terminals are in the submucous ganglia, where they make up the full complement of noradrenergic terminals, and in the mucosa where other noradrenergic terminals, not containing somatostatin immunoreactivity, are also present. The small number of noradrenergic fibres prese..