Organization of the nervous system regulating the local bloodflow in the infrared receptive organ (pit membrane).

• Project/Area Number: 10680705
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: Yokohama City University
• Principal Investigator: KISHIDA Reiji Yokohama City University, Department of Anatomy, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (50046132)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ATOBE Yoshitoshi Yokohama City University, Department of Anatomy, Assistant, 医学部, 助手 (60264602) ; KADOTA Tetsuo Yokohama City University, Department of Anatomy, Lecturer, 医学部, 講師 (70117745)
• Project Period (FY): 1998 – 2000
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2000)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000); Fiscal Year 2000: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000); Fiscal Year 1999: ¥700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000); Fiscal Year 1998: ¥1,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000)
• Keywords: Infrared receptive organ / Trigeminal nerve / Autonomic nerve / Sensory nerve termials / Aδ-fibers / C-fibers / Bloodflow regulation / Doppler bloodflow meter

Research Abstract

1) We rendered the pit vasculature visible in various ways, namely, by micro injection of India ink, by a combination of ink and succinate dehydrogenase staining, and by making resin casts for scanning electrion microscope study. The forward-looking areas of the pit had a denser network than side-looking areas. [Anat.Rec., 254 (1999) 107-115].
2) We used Doppler laser blood flow meter to measure the local changes in blood flow of pit membrane in response to infrared stimuli. After resection and chemical blocking, we surmised that rapid local blood flow changes were due to a vasomotor reaction, modulated by the terminal nerve masses directly, resulting in a change in local heat capacity that cools the stimulated receptors back to a basal tempareture. [Auton. Neurosci., 84 (2000) 98-106].
3) We clarified the ultrastructure of capillary pericytes in the pit membranes by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and examined the immunoreactivity in the cytoplasm to two contractile prote ins : smooth muscle alphaactin and desmin. We also observed a close relationship of the pericytes with inter-endothelial cell junction, and pericyte processes connected with the endot helial cell via gap junctions. We surmised that capillary pericytes in the pit membrane have a close functional relationship with the endothelium, and through their contractile and relaxing activity regulate capillary bloodflow to stabilize production of infrared nerve impulses. [Anat.Rec., 260 (2000) 299-307].
4) We counted about 3,000 myelinated fibers and about 6,000 unmyelinated fibers in the pit membrane with electron microscopy. [105th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Association of Anatomists]. We examined the immunoreactivity to SP and VIP in the unmyelinated fibers and the sensitivity of fibers to capasicin. We surmised that the most fibers in the pit membrane are nociceptive and the most fibets in the periphery of the pit membrane are autonomic. [88th Kanto Area Meeting of the Japanese Association of Anatomists].

Research Products

• [Publications] Amemiya et al.(他7名): "Microvasculature of cortaline snake pit organs : Possible function as a heat exchange mechanism"The Anatomical Record. 254. 107-115 (1999)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Goris et al.(他6名): "Nervous control of blood flow microkinetics in the infrared organs of pit vipers."Autonomic Neuroscience Basic and Clinical. 84. 98-106 (2000)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Nakano et al.(他8名): "Ultrastructure of the capillary pericytes and the expression of smooth muscle α-actin and desmin in the snake infrared sensory organs."The Anatomical Record. 260. 299-307 (2000)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Amemiya, F., Nakano, M., Goris, R., Kadota, T., Atobe, Y., Funakoshi, K., Hibiya, K.and Kishida, R.: "Microvasculature of crotaline snake pit organs : Possible function as a heat exchange mechanism."The Anatomical Record. 254. 107-115 (1999)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Goris, R., Nakano, M., Atobe, Y., Kadota, T., Funakoshi, K., Hisajima, T.and Kishida, R.: "Nervous control of blood flow microkinetics in the infrared organs of pit vipers."Autonomic Neuroscience Basic and Clinical. 84. 98-106 (2000)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Nakano, M., Atobe, Y., Goris, R., Yazama, F., Ono, M., Sawada, H., Kadota, T., Funakoshi, K., and Kishida, R.: "Ultrastructure of the capillary pericytes and the expression of smooth muscle α-actin and desmin in the snake infrared sensory organs."The Anatomical Record. 260. 299-307 (2000)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Goris et al.(他6名): "Nervous control of blood flow microkinetics in the infrared organs of pit vipers."Autonomic Neuroscience Basic and Clinical. 84. 98-106 (2000)
• [Publications] Nakano et al.(他8名): "Ultrastructure of the capillary pericytes and the expression of smacth muscle α-actin and desmin in the snake infrared sensory organs."The Anatomical Record. 260. 299-307 (2000)
• [Publications] Amemiya et al.(他7名): "Microvasculature of crotaline snake pit organs: Possible function as a heat exchange mechanism"The Anatomical Record. 254. 107-115 (1999)
• [Publications] Amemiya.et sl.(他7名): "Microvasculature of crotaline snake pit organs : Possible function as a heat exchange mechanism" The Anatomical Record. 254. 107-115 (1999)