[Immunocytochemical Characteristic of Neurons of the Mouse Truncus Sympaticus Stellate Ganglion in Postnatal Ontogenesis]

Neurotransmitter content in stellate ganglion neurons was studied immunocytochemically in mice of different ages (newborns, 10-, 20-, 30- and 60-days-old). Majority of the stellate ganglion neurons in mice of all the groups studied were tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive. Most of neurons with the immunore-activity to choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) were shown to be also TH-positive in the newborn and 10-day-old animals. The percentage of neurons containing TH and neuropeptide Y increased from birth throughout all the age periods studied. The proportion of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)- and ChAT-positive neurons was maximal in 10-day-old animals and then decreased up to 60 days of age. The somatostatin- and galanin-reactive cells were absent in all the mice. Thus, the maturation of neurotransmitter composition is complete in the mouse stellate ganglion by the end of the second month of life.