Participation of TRPV1 and TRPV2 in the rat laryngeal sensory innervation

Laryngeal sensory innervation is essential to the laryngeal defense system. We investigated the participation of TRPV1 and its homologue TRPV2 in the rat laryngeal sensory innervation using immunohistochemistry and the neuronal tracer, fluoro-gold (FG). After injection of FG into the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, FG-labeled neurons were seen in the rostral part of the nodose ganglion (NG). Neurons immunoreactive for TRPV1 or TRPV2 were distributed throughout the NG. TRPV1 immunoreactivity was seen in 49.0 ± 4.5% of the FG-labeled neurons, while TRPV2 immunoreactivity was seen in 12.5 ± 4.1% of the FG-labeled neurons. These findings suggest that both TRPV1 and TRPV2 participate in laryngeal nociception, but that TRPV1 may have a particularly important role.