Somatostatin-, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and gamma-aminobutyric acid-like immunoreactivitity in the frog lumbosacral spinal cord: distribution and effects of sciatic nerve transection.

Using immunohistochemistry and optical densitometry, somatostatin (SOM), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were investigated in the lumbosacral spinal cord of the frog Rana catesbeiana after sciatic nerve transection. In control animals, the densest network of the SOM-, CGRP- and GABA-like immunoreactive fibers was located in the dorsal part of the lateral funiculus. SOM and GABA-like fibers were found in the dorsal terminal field and in the mediolateral band. The latter region showed CGRP and SOM-like immunoreactive cell bodies. SOM- and GABA-like immunoreactive neurons also occurred around the cavity of the central canal, and other GABA-like fibers were found in the ventral terminal field. While the ventral horn showed scarce somatostatin-like fibers, the putative motoneurons were immunoreactive for the two peptides investigated and GABA, but only a few SOM- and GABA-like fibers occurred in the ventral funiculus. After axotomy, GABA-like immunoreactivity decreased in the dorsal part of the lateral funiculus on the same side of the lesion. The other regions remained labeled. These changes were observed at 3 days following axonal injury and persisted at 5, 8 and 15 days. There was no significant difference in the pattern of CGRP- and SOM- immunoreactivity between the axotomized and the control sides. These results are discussed in relation to the effects of the peripheral axotomy on GABA, SOM, and CGRP expression in vertebrates, emphasizing the use of frogs as a model to study the effects of peripheral nerve injury.