Development of non-catecholaminergic sympathetic neurons in para- and prevertebral ganglia of cats

Expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the sympathetic ganglia was investigated by immunohistochemistry in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), stellate ganglion (SG) and celiac ganglion (CG) from cats of different ages (newborn, 10-day-old, 20-day-old, 30-day-old and 2-month-old). Non-catecholaminergic TH-negative VIP-immunoreactive (IR) and nNOS-IR sympathetic ganglionic neurons are present from the moment of birth. In all studied age groups, substantial populations of VIP-IR (up to 9.8%) and nNOS-IR cells (up to 8.3%) was found in the SG, with a much smaller population found in the SCG (