Distribution and Neurochemical Characterization of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Neurons Containing Phoenixin (PNX) and Supplying the Porcine Urinary Bladder

The present study was designed to establish the distribution pattern and immunohistochemical characteristics of phoenixin-immunoreactive (PNX-IR) urinary bladder afferent neurons (UB-ANs) of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in female pigs. The sensory neurons investigated were visualized with a retrograde...

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Main Authors: Paweł Janikiewicz, Urszula Mazur, Piotr Holak, Nastassia Karakina, Kamil Węglarz, Mariusz Krzysztof Majewski, Agnieszka Bossowska
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/516
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author Paweł Janikiewicz
Urszula Mazur
Piotr Holak
Nastassia Karakina
Kamil Węglarz
Mariusz Krzysztof Majewski
Agnieszka Bossowska
author_facet Paweł Janikiewicz
Urszula Mazur
Piotr Holak
Nastassia Karakina
Kamil Węglarz
Mariusz Krzysztof Majewski
Agnieszka Bossowska
author_sort Paweł Janikiewicz
collection DOAJ
description The present study was designed to establish the distribution pattern and immunohistochemical characteristics of phoenixin-immunoreactive (PNX-IR) urinary bladder afferent neurons (UB-ANs) of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in female pigs. The sensory neurons investigated were visualized with a retrograde tracing method using Fast Blue (FB), while their chemical profile(s) were identified using double-labelling immunohistochemistry with antibodies against PNX, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), calretinin (CRT), galanin (GAL), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), somatostatin (SOM) and substance P (SP). Nearly half of UB-ANs contained PNX (45%), and the majority of such encoded sensory neurons were small in size (66%). The most numerous subpopulation of FB/PNX-positive neurons were those containing SP (71%). CGRP, GAL or PACAP were observed in a smaller number of PNX-containing UB-ANs (50%, 30% or 25%, respectively), while PNX-positive sensory neurons simultaneously immunostained with nNOS, CRT or SOM constituted a small fraction of all retrogradely-traced DRG neurons (DRGs; 15%, 6.5% or 1.6%, respectively). Furthermore, the numerical analysis of neurons expressing individual antigens, performed on 10 μm-thick consecutive sections, allows us to state that studied sensory neurons can be classified as neurons “coded” either by the simultaneous presence of SP/CGRP/PACAP/GAL, SP/CGRP/PACAP/NOS, SP/CGRP/PACAP/NOS/CRT and/or SP/CGRP/GAL/PACAP, or, as a separate population, those capable of SOM synthesis (SP/CGRP/SOM/PACAP/GAL-positive neurons). The present study reveals the extensive expression of PNX in the DRGs supplying to the urinary bladder, indicating an important regulatory role of this neuropeptide in the control of physiological function(s) of this organ.
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spelling doaj-art-c44d97b9f3aa49a6a024dae55914e6cf2025-08-20T03:06:27ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-03-0114751610.3390/cells14070516Distribution and Neurochemical Characterization of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Neurons Containing Phoenixin (PNX) and Supplying the Porcine Urinary BladderPaweł Janikiewicz0Urszula Mazur1Piotr Holak2Nastassia Karakina3Kamil Węglarz4Mariusz Krzysztof Majewski5Agnieszka Bossowska6Department of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Surgery and Radiology with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, PolandThe present study was designed to establish the distribution pattern and immunohistochemical characteristics of phoenixin-immunoreactive (PNX-IR) urinary bladder afferent neurons (UB-ANs) of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) in female pigs. The sensory neurons investigated were visualized with a retrograde tracing method using Fast Blue (FB), while their chemical profile(s) were identified using double-labelling immunohistochemistry with antibodies against PNX, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), calretinin (CRT), galanin (GAL), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), somatostatin (SOM) and substance P (SP). Nearly half of UB-ANs contained PNX (45%), and the majority of such encoded sensory neurons were small in size (66%). The most numerous subpopulation of FB/PNX-positive neurons were those containing SP (71%). CGRP, GAL or PACAP were observed in a smaller number of PNX-containing UB-ANs (50%, 30% or 25%, respectively), while PNX-positive sensory neurons simultaneously immunostained with nNOS, CRT or SOM constituted a small fraction of all retrogradely-traced DRG neurons (DRGs; 15%, 6.5% or 1.6%, respectively). Furthermore, the numerical analysis of neurons expressing individual antigens, performed on 10 μm-thick consecutive sections, allows us to state that studied sensory neurons can be classified as neurons “coded” either by the simultaneous presence of SP/CGRP/PACAP/GAL, SP/CGRP/PACAP/NOS, SP/CGRP/PACAP/NOS/CRT and/or SP/CGRP/GAL/PACAP, or, as a separate population, those capable of SOM synthesis (SP/CGRP/SOM/PACAP/GAL-positive neurons). The present study reveals the extensive expression of PNX in the DRGs supplying to the urinary bladder, indicating an important regulatory role of this neuropeptide in the control of physiological function(s) of this organ.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/516phoenixinurinary bladdersensory innervationdorsal root ganglia neuronsneuropeptidesimmunohistochemistry
spellingShingle Paweł Janikiewicz
Urszula Mazur
Piotr Holak
Nastassia Karakina
Kamil Węglarz
Mariusz Krzysztof Majewski
Agnieszka Bossowska
Distribution and Neurochemical Characterization of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Neurons Containing Phoenixin (PNX) and Supplying the Porcine Urinary Bladder
Cells
phoenixin
urinary bladder
sensory innervation
dorsal root ganglia neurons
neuropeptides
immunohistochemistry
title Distribution and Neurochemical Characterization of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Neurons Containing Phoenixin (PNX) and Supplying the Porcine Urinary Bladder
title_full Distribution and Neurochemical Characterization of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Neurons Containing Phoenixin (PNX) and Supplying the Porcine Urinary Bladder
title_fullStr Distribution and Neurochemical Characterization of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Neurons Containing Phoenixin (PNX) and Supplying the Porcine Urinary Bladder
title_full_unstemmed Distribution and Neurochemical Characterization of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Neurons Containing Phoenixin (PNX) and Supplying the Porcine Urinary Bladder
title_short Distribution and Neurochemical Characterization of Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Neurons Containing Phoenixin (PNX) and Supplying the Porcine Urinary Bladder
title_sort distribution and neurochemical characterization of dorsal root ganglia drg neurons containing phoenixin pnx and supplying the porcine urinary bladder
topic phoenixin
urinary bladder
sensory innervation
dorsal root ganglia neurons
neuropeptides
immunohistochemistry
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/516
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