Table 2

Mean cell sizes of guinea pig nodose neurons.

Markers

Commonly

Expressed¹

Average Cell Perimeter (μm)

Markers

Uncommonly

Expressed²

Average Cell Perimeter (μm)

Marker (+)

Marker(-)/FG(+)

Marker (+)

Marker(+)/FG(+)

NKCC1

113.9 ± 3.1*

None

Substance P

99.1 ± 3.7*

108.3 ± 5.9*

α1 Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase

109.3 ± 4.8*

131.3 ± 8.4

CGRP

90.0 ± 2.6*

92.9³ *

α3 Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase

139.1 ± 1.8

128.5 ± 5.1

Somatostatin

80.4 ± 2.2*

None

vGlut1

135.7 ± 2.6

126.8 ± 4.7

nNOS (IFCs)

98.3 ± 2.6*

109.5 ± 8.9*

vGlut2

109.6 ± 3.0*

138.6 ± 1.8

Calretinin

177.9 ± 2.6*

None

Neurofilament

142.1 ± 5.7

105.3 ± 2.4*

Calbindin

173.3 ± 2.1*

None

nNOS (all)

112.6 ± 2.9*

126.8 ± 5.9

Parvalbumin

None

None

¹ Defined as a marker that is expressed in more than 50 per cent of the FG traced neurons.

² Defined as a marker that is expressed in less than 50 per cent of the FG traced neurons.

³ Only one FG traced neuron expressed CGRP.

*P < 0.05, significantly different compared to the average size of FG traced neurons, Student's t-test (Note. The average somal perimeter of FG traced neurons = 137.3 ± 6.2).

Abbreviations: CGRP; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; FG, Fluorogold; IFCs, Intensely Fluorescent Cells; nNOS, neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase; vGlut, vesicular Glutamate transporter.

Mazzone and McGovern Cough 2008 4:9   doi:10.1186/1745-9974-4-9