Localization in the vagal ganglia of calcitonin gene-related peptide- and calretinin-immunoreactive neurons that innervate the cervical and the subdiaphragmatic esophagus of the rat

We have determined the localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive (CGRP-ir) and calretinin-ir neurons in the vagal ganglia that innervate the cervical or subdiaphragmatic esophagus. Many CGRP-ir neurons were found exclusively in the jugular ganglion located in the cranial cavity. Calretinin-ir neurons were distributed throughout the vagal ganglia. Injection of Fluorogold into the cervical esophagus resulted in many Fluorogold-labeled neurons in the jugular and nodose ganglia. Injection of Fluorogold into the subdiaphragmatic esophagus resulted in many Fluorogold-labeled neurons, with most in the nodose ganglion. In the case of Fluorogold injection into the cervical esophagus, double-labeling combining immunohistochemistry and retrograde tracing showed that about 40% of the Fluorogold-labeled neurons in the jugular ganglion express CGRP-like immunoreactivity, and about 20% of the Fluorogold-labeled neurons in both the jugular and nodose ganglia express calretinin-like immunoreactivity. In the case of injection into the subdiaphragmatic esophagus, only a few Fluorogold-labeled neurons express CGRP-like immunoreactivity or calretinin-like immunoreactivity in the vagal ganglia. These results indicate that the cervical esophagus receives projections from many CGRP-ir neurons in the jugular ganglion and from calretinin-ir neurons in the jugular and nodose ganglia, while the subdiaphragmatic esophagus receives projections from only a few CGRP-ir and calretinin-ir neurons in the vagal ganglia.

► The cervical esophagus receives many projections from neurons in the jugular and nodose ganglia.
► The abdominal esophagus receives many projections mostly from neurons in the nodose ganglion.
► CGRP-ir vagal sensory neurons project to the cervical esophagus, but to the abdominal esophagus.
► Calretinin-ir vagal sensory neurons project to the cervical esophagus.